NASA double speak

[planetxseeker]

Here is NASA giving us the explanation for the additional second being added to the clock tonight. The article sounds plausible, the earth "routinely" slows down 1.4 thousands of a second every 100 years - except this is the second time in 4 years they've had to add a second (also 2008)!

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/extra-second.html

[Ed Douglas]

Good find, planetseeker. Perhaps they will add another in a couple of years. This indicates the earth revolution is slowing. A gravitational influence could have that effect.   ed

[Yowbarb]

Here is NASA giving us the explanation for the additional second being added to the clock tonight. The article sounds plausible, the earth "routinely" slows down 1.4 thousands of a second every 100 years - except this is the second time in 4 years they've had to add a second (also 2008)!

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/extra-second.html

Wow, planetxseeker! Yes, good find.
- Yowbarb

[planetxseeker]

NASA is launching 2 satellites today to study the Van Allen belt - NASA saying it will help predict space weather (this is partly true - solar flare activity magnifies the belt(s). However, the belts usually sit over 23,000 km from the earth's surface. The Van Allen belt is only 200 km from the earth's surface in the South America Magnetic Anomaly region. This will be something to keep an eye on going forward.

Two good links on the subject: http://www.clavius.org/envrad.html (Good info on the Van Allen radiation belt) and http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57503292/nasa-launches-twin-satellites-to-study-van-allen-radiation-belts/ is the "benign" NASA announcement.

[Yowbarb]

NASA is launching 2 satellites today to study the Van Allen belt - NASA saying it will help predict space weather (this is partly true - solar flare activity magnifies the belt(s). However, the belts usually sit over 23,000 km from the earth's surface. The Van Allen belt is only 200 km from the earth's surface in the South America Magnetic Anomaly region. This will be something to keep an eye on going forward.

Two good links on the subject: http://www.clavius.org/envrad.html (Good info on the Van Allen radiation belt) and http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57503292/nasa-launches-twin-satellites-to-study-van-allen-radiation-belts/ is the "benign" NASA announcement.

Planetxseeker, belated reply to your post. 
There is plenty of continuing NASA double speak, and so this Topic continues.
- Yowbarb