[LEAPSECS] alternative to smearing

[GERRY ASHTON]

<p>
</p><blockquote><p>On January 9, 2017 at 6:55 PM John Sauter <John_Sauter at systemeyescomputerstore.com> wrote in part:</p><blockquote></blockquote><p>ISO 8601 handles leap seconds perfectly well. In ISO 8601 format, the
most recent leap second was named 2016-21-31T23:59:60Z.</p><p>I don't understand what [Preben Nørager]  mean when  [Preben Nørager said] "Leap seconds are really
only a need for those who do not want to see the proleptic gregorian
calendar become universal." I would have no objection to the proleptic
Gregorian calendar becoming universal (though I would not force it on
anyone who did not like it) and yet I am a supporter of leap seconds.
 John Sauter (<a href="mailto:John_Sauter at systemeyescomputerstore.com">John_Sauter at systemeyescomputerstore.com</a>)</p><p>
</p></blockquote>

My understanding is that the proleptic Gregorian calendar means applying the rules of the Gregorian calendar applied before it's earliest adoption (15 October 1582) or perhaps applying those rules at a time and place where the Gregorian calendar had not yet been adopted. Since the Gregorian calendar is in essentially universal use, at least for purposes of international commerce and communication, there the word "proleptic" does not apply to contemporary use.

As far as I can tell the Julian Period is no longer in use, although the derivatives, Julian date and Julian day number, are widely used in science and astronomy.