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From: philm@astroatc.UUCP (Phil Mason)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Julian Date (was Re: Sorting by date)
Message-ID: <563@astroatc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Nov-87 21:00:33 EST
Article-I.D.: astroatc.563
Posted: Mon Nov  9 21:00:33 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Nov-87 06:24:12 EST
References: <513@mtxinu.UUCP> <763@cfa.cfa.harvard.EDU> <3060@psuvax1.psu.edu> <116@mahendo.Jpl.Nasa.Gov>
Reply-To: philm@astroatc.UUCP (Phil Mason)
Organization: Astronautics Technology Cntr, Madison, WI
Lines: 25

In article <116@mahendo.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> steve@mahendo.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (3171) writes:
>
>The following information is taken from the Explanatory Supplement to the
>Astronomical Ephemeris and the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac
>(Crown copyright 1961, fourth impression 1977) page 431 paragraph 3:
>
>Note that it was established in the sixteenth century, and has nothing to do
>with the Julian calendar or with some biblical accounting of the creation of
>the world.

Ooops . . . I guess I stand corrected.

It *is* true, however, that Julius Caesar did form what became (after a few
revisions) our modern Western calendar.  Most cultures and religons have
(or had) their own calendar systems.  The whole concept of 'eras' and basing
your dates in the future on past events is well documented, but I guess it 
doesn't apply here.  

Thanks for setting the record straight.

-- 
Kirk  : Bones ?                |  Phil Mason, Astronautics Technology Center
Bones : He's dead Jim.         |  Madison, Wisconsin - "Eat Cheese or Die!"
...seismo-uwvax-astroatc!philm |  I would really like to believe that my
...ihnp4-nicmad/               |  employer shares all my opinions, but . . .