2008 Leap Second! We're gaining one second this year on Dec. 31, 2008
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
December 19, 2008 6:32am CST
Leap seconds have been added to our time for decades but few of us knew about it before the invention of the internet. I bumped into this news last night while perusing newsworthy sites.
On December 31, 2008 at exactly 6:59:59 p.m. EST, our clocks (atomic clocks, that is) will gain one extra second. If you have an atomic clock (most computers have them) and you happen to be looking at it at exactly 6:59:59, you're going to get a treat... rare, but not THAT rare. It's just that we don't often get down to the second to know exactly when to look at our clocks to see this phenomenon happening!
The last time this happened was in 2005.
This entire story can be found here: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/081208-leap-second.html [THIS IS NOT A REFERRAL SITE]
Did you know this was happening? I had heard about it happening but never paid much attention to it until I just read this article. So, will you be looking at your clocks on that date and time to see us gaining this extra second? If I can remember to, I will be!!
3 people like this
5 responses
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
30 Dec 08
I knew of it after I visited Rome. There on the cathedral, there are two clocks. One is the one reflecting the Atomic clock. And the other is the one we refer to everyday.
There is a visible time difference between the two. And it got me curious.
Too bad I will not be able to observe this phenomenon on my computer as I would be travelling during the time.
But it would be interesting to be able to see this.
I am sure you will be having fun trying to witness this extra second being added to your clock!
Heh heh... 
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
Well, at least you will be sitting in front of the computer when it happens.
I will be sitting on a bus some where in the mountains travelling towards my destination!
Ah well, the next time it happens, I will try to make it then.
Till then, I can only know it happens. I have missed so many already, one more to the list ain't gonna make a big difference. :p
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Guess what? I missed it! By one whole minute! I looked at the clock at exactly 7:01.
Oh, well. At least, if anyone tells you that yesterday felt longer than normal, you can tell them that it WAS longer than normal!
I hope you've reached your destination safely and all's well in your world.
Happy New Year, ahgong! May you enjoy much health, happiness and properity in 2009!
By one whole minute! I looked at the clock at exactly 7:01.
Oh, well. At least, if anyone tells you that yesterday felt longer than normal, you can tell them that it WAS longer than normal!
I hope you've reached your destination safely and all's well in your world.
Happy New Year, ahgong! May you enjoy much health, happiness and properity in 2009!@mentalward (14690)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hahaha! Knowing me, I'll blink my eyes at exactly that moment and miss it! 
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
22 Dec 08
never heard of it before and i doubt i will remember lol
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I'll probably forget it, too. As a matter of fact, I had forgotten all about this discussion until I was going through all of the emails I've missed recently! LOL
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
30 Dec 08
will they actually mention it when the ball is dropping on tv? i saw something else on it saying how it will be 4,3,2,1,1 and i wonder if they mean literally or just saying it as an example
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Well, my Computer does not have a Second feature so I will not be able to see it, but if I could since that is only 16 mins. from now, that would be interesting to see. This is interesting, and actually something I heard about while I was at work today.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
19 Dec 08
I really don't understand how all this works. It is all mind boggling for me.
@BloodShyne (792)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I had no idea about this thx for the info mentalward, is it just me or does it seem like 2008 went by extreamly fast? ...I hope this extra second slows 2009 down a bit so it dosen't pass by like sonic the hedgehog and how 08 did. I can't even belive it's new years again lol where did 08 go?
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Dec 08
Haha! Well, if you really are 18 years old as your profile says, you're in for a long, actually a very SHORT, ride if you think 2008 went fast!
It seems that the years fly by faster and faster with every year; maybe because we slow down as we age. I'm WAY up there at 56 years, so I've noticed time going by faster and faster.
This year, 2008, DID seem to go by extra fast and I have no real explanation for it. It seems like just last week I was planting my vegetable seeds!!! Whaaa...???
But, yeah, that's a very strange phenomenon, when time seems to go by faster when it really doesn't. Although, with this new added second, 2008 will have actually been LONGER than last year and the year before that! Of course, one second really isn't noticeable, is it? This has happened many times since it first began; we just didn't know about it.
Cool, huh?
It seems that the years fly by faster and faster with every year; maybe because we slow down as we age. I'm WAY up there at 56 years, so I've noticed time going by faster and faster.
This year, 2008, DID seem to go by extra fast and I have no real explanation for it. It seems like just last week I was planting my vegetable seeds!!! Whaaa...???
But, yeah, that's a very strange phenomenon, when time seems to go by faster when it really doesn't. Although, with this new added second, 2008 will have actually been LONGER than last year and the year before that! Of course, one second really isn't noticeable, is it? This has happened many times since it first began; we just didn't know about it.
Cool, huh?