[LEAPSECS] [time-nuts] Leap second to be introduced at midnight UTC December 31 this year

[Martin Burnicki]

Warner Losh wrote:
> On Wed, Jul 20, 2016 at 9:27 AM, Martin Burnicki
> <martin.burnicki at burnicki.net> wrote:
>> Each bulletin C from IERS says:
>>
>> "Leap seconds can be introduced in UTC at the end of the months of
>> December  or June, depending on the evolution of UT1-TAI. Bulletin C is
>> mailed every six months, either to announce a time step in UTC or to
>> confirm that there will be no time step at the next possible date."
> 
> That's not an official standards document. That's IERS telling us how often
> they will publish their Bulletin C with not a lot of precision. Sometimes it's
> sent out on July 1, other times later, for example.

Agreed, but it clearly states what will happen in about 6 months, and
even if no leap second is currently scheduled there will be no leap
second before the next bulletin C is published.

I think the problems we've observed with some leap seconds is not due to
this practice.

Martin