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Old December 8th 18, 06:38 PM posted to sci.astro.amateur
Gerald Kelleher
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Default Lat/Long and timekeeping system for Mars

Astronomy and timekeeping are two areas where there are no experts unlike the medical profession or indeed any other profession where people can pride themselves at being at the top of their game. Looking around here, there isn't a chance anyone is up to the formation of a similar masterpiece which constitutes the Earth's timekeeping overlaid on the planet's rotational characteristics and orbital period.

Were the Earth's proportion of rotations to orbital circuits 365 3/4 to one orbital circuit, the correction would be based on the first integer of days to orbital circuits . This would mean, using the current system, 3 years with a February 29th and one year of February 28th.

365 * 4 = 1460

3/4 * 4 = 3

Such a system would require 3 additional leap days or one year of 365 days/rotations and 3 years of 366 days/rotations to keep the system ticking over as the present 365 1/4 rotations/days do as - 1463 days/rotations divided by 4 years/orbital circuits = 365.75 rotations per orbital circuit.

The Martian system requires its own equivalent of the 24 hour day in order to mesh it with the calendar cycle and orbital period. So what if it is not celebrated or ignored, I haven't seen anyone yet who appreciates the masterpiece we inherited from so many traditions over so many centuries.