Xref: utzoo sci.research:280 sci.physics:2684
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From: ct@dde.uucp (Claus Tondering)
Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Universal Time
Message-ID: <294@Aragorn.dde.uucp>
Date: 22 Dec 87 08:10:51 GMT
References: <6888@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Reply-To: ct@dde.uucp (Claus Tondering)
Organization: Dansk Data Elektronik A/S, Herlev, Denmark
Lines: 37
Keywords: UTC UT0 time standard
Summary: It's UTC!

In article <6888@brl-smoke.ARPA> gwyn@brl-smoke.ARPA (Doug Gwyn ) writes:
>I need an authoritative answer to the question, "What is the correct
>official name to use in talking about the international Universal Time
>standard?"  I have been told UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) and UT0,
>and I've also heard of "Coordinated Universal Time" and "Universal
>Coordinated Time".
>
>Please don't respond unless you're sure you know the answer.  Best
>would be someone who has to deal with these matters all the time,
>for example NBS staff.

I'm not part of the NBS staff, but nevertheless, here goes...

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) has in 1986
published a "Draft International Standard" called ISO/DIS 8601, in which
you find the following wording:

)   3.2.  _Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)_: The time scale maintained
)         by the Bureau Internationale de l'Heure (International Time
)         Bureau) that forms the basis of a coordinated dissemination
)         of standard frequencies and time signalals.
)
)         _Note 1_: The source of this definition is Reccomendation 460-2
)         of the Consultative Committee on International Radio (CCIR).
)         CCIR has also defined the acronym for Coordinated Universal
)         Time as UTC.
)
)         _Note 2_: UTC is often referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
)         and appropriate time signals are regularly broadcast.

I hope this is the information you needed.

Merry Christmas!
-- 
Claus Tondering
Dansk Data Elektronik A/S, Herlev, Denmark
E-mail: ct@dde.uucp   or  ...!uunet!mcvax!diku!dde!ct