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From: jeffr@aai2..istc.sri.com (Jeff Rininger)
Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Universal Time
Message-ID: <11020@sri-spam.istc.sri.com>
Date: 21 Dec 87 17:40:34 GMT
References: <6888@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Sender: nobody@sri-spam.istc.sri.com
Reply-To: jeffr@aai2.UUCP (Jeff Rininger)
Organization: SRI International
Lines: 22
Keywords: UTC UT0 time standard

>I need an authoritative answer to the question, "What is the correct
>official name to use in talking about the international Universal Time
>standard?"  

	"The time referred to in the announcements is "Coordinated
	Universal Time (UTC).  It is coordinated through international
	agreements by the International Time Bureau (BIH) so that time
	signals broadcast from the many stations throughout the world
	will be in close agreement."  (p. 3)

	"Somewhat surprisingly, however, some users of time signals
	need time which is not this stable.  In applications such as
	very precise navigation and satellite tracking, which must be
	referenced to the rotating earth, a time scale that speeds up
	and slows down with the earth's rotation rate must be used.
	The particular time scale needed is known as UT1 and is inferred
	from astronomical observations."  (p. 6)



		- (from "NBS Time & Frequency Dissemination Services," NBS
		   Special Publication 432, September, 1979.)