Messages: 382 Location: st. petersburg florida
Registered: November 2004
Leap Second Explained...
Tue, 04 December 2012 23:24
...our rep explained the phenomenon known as "leap second" this way, after we opened a few of these... he said that some are indicating that the second hand of their Astron stopped and then began to move counter clockwise after it connected with the GPS satellites...and they will be absolutely correct!
You can tell them that this is a testament to the technical superiority of this amazing timepiece.
Here's what is happening:
"Seiko Astron entered the leap second data receiving mode after the first GPS signal was received on or after December 1st and June 1st. This process can take up to 18 minutes to complete. If the second hand stops at the 18 minute mark, it will begin to countdown every minute to indicate the number of minutes remaining for it to receive the leap second data. No matter where the second hand stops, it will be necessary to remain in a place where GPS signals can be received.
So...what in the world is a leap second?!
Seiko Astron maintains accurate time by receiving GPS signals generated from atomic clocks on GPS satellites (GPS time). GPS time, however, does not contain the leap second. The leap second is to compensate for deviations from the universal time (UT) which is astronomically determined and the "International Atomic Time (GPS time)...in other words; it compensates for the slowing of the earth's rotation! As a result "1 second" may be added (deleted) once or twice per year or every few years at the end of June or December. The last leap second to be added was at the end of June of 2012 and prior to that it was at the end of December in 2008.
Whether or not a leap second will be added or deleted, Astron will automatically go into the leap second data receiving mode after the first GPS signal is received on or after December 1st and June 1st of each year. This is to prepare Astron to receive the leap second data if it is transmitted at the end of the month. Note: A leap second is not scheduled to be added or deleted at the end of December 2012, however Astron will still enter the leap second receiving mode at the beginning of the month.
