[154424] in North American Network Operators' Group
RE: F-ckin Leap Seconds, how do they work?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Keith Medcalf)
Tue Jul 3 18:58:21 2012
Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:56:13 -0600
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LSU.2.00.1207032329270.22150@hermes-2.csi.cam.ac.uk>
From: "Keith Medcalf" <kmedcalf@dessus.com>
To: "Tony Finch" <dot@dotat.at>
Cc: "nanog@nanog.org" <nanog@nanog.org>
Errors-To: nanog-bounces+nanog.discuss=bloom-picayune.mit.edu@nanog.org
Tony Finch <fanf2@hermes.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
> Keith Medcalf <kmedcalf@dessus.com> wrote:
> > You are assuming facts not in evidence. The rotation is merely
> > irregular within the capabilities of our scheme of measurement,
> > calculation, and observation.
> There is LOTS of evidence that the earth's rotation is irregular. VLBI,
> laser ranging of the moon, etc. This was known long before the atomic
> clock was invented, and it is why the definition of the second was change=
d
> from one based on earth rotation to one based on Newcomb's ephemerides,
> before the change to an atomic second.
What you mean is that it is subject to periodicities and forces which you d=
o not understand, and that within your limited perception, this ignorance i=
s taken as "irregularity". Just because the system encompasses rules and p=
roperties beyond your understanding and observation does not mean that it i=
s magic.
It is impossible for the earth's rotation to be irregular, just as it is im=
possible for the orbit around the sun to be irreglar, or the orbit of the s=
olar system within the galaxy, or the galaxy within the universe, or the un=
iverse within the multiverse, to be irregular.
The irregularity is due to inability to comprehend the rather simple set of=
rules governing the motion, or failures of observation.
Once upon a time (not too long ago) the orbit of Pluto was thought to be "i=
rregular". It was not. There was another body right where it would be exp=
ected to be found affecting the orbit of Pluto. All that was required to "=
discover" it was someone who applied logical thought processes rather than =
magical thought processes to the observed data.
The earth's rotation and orbit is perfectly regular. Your error is one of =
assumption and a failure to admit that your knowledge is imperfect.
** "your" is the general y'all, not you in particular **
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