WHY IS BIG BEN DOING AN EXTRA DONG?

[bodaccea]

My friend just told me that tonight Big Ben will dong thirteen times instead of usual twelve!! Sumat to do with allowing for globe to slow down! Anyone got any more info? Just curious. Apparently happened only once before in the history of Big Ben - but cant find any reference to when and why?

[C64]

The world is slowing down?

Hope it doesn't go too slow or we'll all float off into space

[scousemouse]

because he works for king kinog

[Devilfish]

An extra second was added to the countdown at new year to bring the most accurate atomic clocks in line with the astronomical day.

The snag is that the rotation of the Earth is not so reliable. It is gradually slowing down and factors such as disruptions in the Earth's core, extreme weather, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can all influence the precise length of the astronomical day. From time to time, the rotation-based clock ? UT1 time ? and UTC need to be brought back into line.

[.: JaCkPoT :.]

An extra second was added to the countdown at new year to bring the most accurate atomic clocks in line with the astronomical day.

The snag is that the rotation of the Earth is not so reliable. It is gradually slowing down and factors such as disruptions in the Earth's core, extreme weather, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can all influence the precise length of the astronomical day. From time to time, the rotation-based clock ? UT1 time ? and UTC need to be brought back into line.

not only ae you a admin... your a scientist