Geocentric Coordinate Time

Geocentric Coordinate Time (TCG - Temps-coordonnée géocentrique) is a coordinate time standard intended to be used as the independent variable of time for all calculations pertaining to precession, nutation, the Moon, and artificial satellites of the Earth. It is equivalent to the proper time experienced by a clock at rest in a coordinate frame co-moving with the center of the Earth: that is, a clock that performs exactly the same movements as the Earth but is outside the Earth's gravity well. It is therefore not influenced by the gravitational time dilation caused by the Earth.

TCG was defined in 1991 by the International Astronomical Union, in Recommendation III of the XXIst General Assembly. It was intended as one of the replacements for the ill-defined Barycentric Dynamical Time (TDB). Unlike former astronomical time scales, TCG is defined in the context of the general theory of relativity. The relationships between TCG and other relativistic time scales are defined with fully general relativistic metrics.

Because the reference frame for TCG is not rotating with the surface of the Earth and not in the gravitational potential of the Earth, TCG ticks faster than clocks on the surface of the Earth by about 7.0 × 10−10 (about 22 milliseconds per year). Consequently, the values of physical constants to be used with calculations using TCG differ from the traditional values of physical constants. (The traditional values were in a sense wrong, incorporating corrections for the difference in time scales.) Adapting the large body of existing software to change from TDB to TCG is a formidable task, and as of 2002 many calculations continue to use TDB in some form.

Time coordinates on the TCG scale are conventionally specified using traditional means of specifying days, carried over from non-uniform time standards based on the rotation of the Earth. Specifically, both Julian Dates and the Gregorian calendar are used. For continuity with its predecessor Ephemeris Time, TCG was set to match ET at around Julian Date 2443144.5 (1977-01-01T00Z). More precisely, it was defined that TCG instant 1977-01-01T00:00:32.184 exactly corresponds to TAI instant 1977-01-01T00:00:00.000 exactly. This is also the instant at which TAI introduced corrections for gravitational time dilation.

TCG is a Platonic time scale: a theoretical ideal, not dependent on a particular realisation. For practical purposes, TCG must be realised by actual clocks in the Earth system. Because of the linear relationship between Terrestrial Time (TT) and TCG, the same clocks that realise TT also serve for TCG. See the article on TT for details of the relationship and how TT is realised.

Barycentric Coordinate Time (TCB) is the equivalent of TCG for calculations relating to the solar system beyond Earth orbit. TCG is defined by a different reference frame from TCB, such that they are not linearly related. Over the long term, TCG ticks more slowly than TCB by about 1.6 × 10−8. In addition there are periodic variations, as Earth moves within the Solar system. When the Earth is at perihelion in January, TCG ticks even more slowly than it does on average, due to gravitational time dilation from being deeper in the Sun's gravity well and also velocity time dilation from moving faster relative to the Sun. At aphelion in July the opposite holds, with TCG ticking faster than in does on average.

Time measurement and standards
Major subjects
  • Time
  • Chronometry
  • Orders of magnitude
  • Metrology
International standards
  • UTC
  • UTC offset
  • UT
  • ΔT
  • DUT1
  • IERS
  • ISO 31-1
  • ISO 8601
  • TAI
  • 12-hour clock
  • 24-hour clock
  • Barycentric Coordinate Time
  • Civil time
  • Daylight saving time
  • Geocentric Coordinate Time
  • International Date Line
  • Leap second
  • Solar time
  • Terrestrial Time
  • Time zone
Obsolete standards
  • Barycentric Dynamical Time
  • Ephemeris time
  • Greenwich Mean Time
  • Prime Meridian
Time in physics
  • Absolute time and space
  • Spacetime
  • Chronon
  • Continuous time
  • Coordinate time
  • Cosmological decade
  • Discrete time
  • Planck epoch
  • Planck time
  • Proper time
  • Theory of relativity
  • Time dilation
  • Gravitational time dilation
  • Time domain
  • T-symmetry
Horology
  • Clock
  • Astrarium
  • Atomic clock
  • Complication
  • Equation of time
  • History of timekeeping devices
  • Hourglass
  • Marine chronometer
  • Marine sandglass
  • Radio clock
  • Sundial
  • Watch
  • Water clock
Calendar
  • Astronomical
  • Dominical letter
  • Epact
  • Equinox
  • Gregorian
  • Hebrew
  • Hindu
  • Intercalation
  • Islamic
  • Julian
  • Leap year
  • Lunar
  • Lunisolar
  • Seven-day week
  • Solar
  • Solstice
  • Tropical year
  • Weekday determination
  • Weekday names
Archaeology and geology
  • Dating methodologies
  • Geologic time scale
  • International Commission on Stratigraphy
Astronomical chronology
  • Galactic year
  • Nuclear time scale
  • Precession
  • Sidereal time
Units of time
  • Century
  • Day
  • Decade
  • Fortnight
  • Hour
  • Jiffy
  • Lustrum
  • Millennium
  • Minute
  • Month
  • Paksha
  • Saeculum
  • Second
  • Shake
  • Tide
  • Week
  • Year
Related topics
  • Chronology
  • Duration
  • Mental chronometry
  • Metric time
  • System time
  • Time value of money
  • Timekeeper

Famous quotes containing the word time:

    It is too great comfort which turns a man against himself. Life is most readily renounced at the time and among the classes where it is least harsh.
    Emile Durkheim (1858–1917)