Time on Earth Now

Earth, our home planet, serves as the reference point for all planetary timekeeping in the Solar System. The Earth Planetary Clock is directly aligned with the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970), a time system commonly used in computing to track the passage of time in seconds since that date. While other planets in the Solar System experience time quite differently due to their unique rotations and orbits, Earth's clock serves as the foundation for understanding time across the Solar System.

How it Works

The Planetary Clock uses Earth’s rotational and orbital periods as the baseline for its calculations. On Earth, the clock measures the time it takes Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis, which defines our day. It also measures the time it takes Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun, which defines our year.

The Planetary Clock for Earth is synchronised with the Unix epoch and moves at the same pace as traditional Earth time. This clock ensures that every second on Earth is measured with precision and consistency.

 

Earth's Unique Rotation and Orbit

Earth's position in the Solar System gives us a relatively stable timekeeping system, which is why the Unix epoch is based on Earth time.

Earth completes one full rotation on its axis in 24 hours (86,400 seconds), creating the familiar pattern of day and night. The Planetary Clock accurately reflects this rotation, with time passing in real-time, measured in hours, minutes, and seconds.

It takes Earth approximately 365.25 days to complete one full orbit around the Sun. This means that every four years, we add an extra day to our calendar (a leap year) to account for the fractional day that builds up over time.

The Earth's Planetary Clock operates seamlessly with the Unix epoch, displaying the current date and time as we experience it on our planet. The combination of a regular day-night cycle and a consistent year length makes Earth's Planetary Clock the basis for measuring time across the Solar System.