Leap Year FAQ

the website with the self-referential tagline...

LEAP YEAR EMAILS

Seeing as how I am somehow now an expert on leap days, I feel compelled to post the following exchange that made its way into my mailbox. The frightening part is: I know all of these people (with the exception of Dr. Zaius who I have never met).

Hey, everybody!

        Last week in my Astronomy class I learned some fascinating information
about leap years, and specifically, about the rarity of a leap year on an even
century (1800, 1900, 2000, etc.).  You may have seen this in the news (I don't
know if they have had or will have anything about this), but if not, read on;
this is very cool.  You see, today (February 29th) is a once in 400 year
phenomenon.  Normally, to make up for the fact that a solar year is not a perfect
365.25 days (the .25 adds up to the leap day once every 4 years), a leap day is
not observed on an even century, unless that century is divisible by 4 (to
compensate for the weird fraction even further), as the year 2000 is.  According
to my Astronomy teacher, this is actually the first such year since the rule was
established.  Isn't that great?  Aren't you happy you're alive to see this rare
day in history?  I know I am.  If you want a more detailed explanation, read on,
or check out the bizarre Leap Day Site where I got it at
http://www.mystro.com/leap.htm.

                        Your Friend,
                            Andy

"Our solar year (the time required for Earth to travel once around the Sun) is
365.24219 days.

...

The calendar we use today, known as the Gregorian calendar, makes our year
365.2425 days only off from our solar year by .00031, which amounts to only one
day's error after 4,000 years."

And that mail prompted this mail from the occasionally pedantic Brian Bargender!

Check this out:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/02/000225115345.htm

At least a few serious scientists are contemplating what to do about the fact
that even with occasional leap years, the gregorian calendar will be off by one
day in  about 5,000 years.  Ooh scary.

P.S.  Ha Ha Behrendt, I'm a bigger nerd than you are!

Brian Bargender

Then this came in. I think Brian Kerhin works at some sort of new agency, or media outlet of some kind...

Everybody...

One more note...

Every 4,000 years, the adjustment will require a Feb. 30 as well!!!
Really - It's true. I saw it on the Associated Press wire today at work.

Brian Kerhin

This is the final word on the subject. Dr. Zaius is pretty bitter I'd say. His (her) email address is DrZaius@bbb.addr.com in case you need to find him (her).

Hello everybody, this is Dr Zaius.  Perhaps you have heard of me.
I do not know why you all are going on about all this "in 4000 years"
crap.
As you all know very well, your species will cease to exist as a
dominating force on this planet very soon.
It is we, the Simian, who will, and rightfully so, rule this pitiful
rock.
And do you think we are going to adhere to your pathetic attempt at
organizing the solar cycle?

This is not the first time I have tried to contact your species from
here in the future.
The last time I tried, you made a damn silly movie out of my
communications.
For that reason, you will receive no further sympathy from me.

But really, why even worry about it?  And what is with this sudden
insight into possible problems in the future?
In the 1980's you could not even think ahead twenty of your imperfect
years to see the crisis you were creating for yourselves with your
"computers."

All I'm trying to say is that you are wasting your valuable and
ever-fleeting time.

Thank you.

Dr. Zaius

Tell Koko I said "Wuzzup."  Mad props to all my homies doin time in
Lincoln Park.  Peace out.

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