Wait a second: 2008 gets extended by timekeepers

I already announced this, but noticed this blurb:

At the Naval Observatory they have a party at 6:59:60 p.m.

“We watch the clock and make sure nothing breaks,” Chester said. “It’s an early New Year’s celebration.” A brief one.

That’s right. There’s a party that lasts all of one second.

(The 6:59:60 p.m. is because the leap second is added at midnight UTC, so all timekeepers add it at the same time. Unless you’re in If you’re west of Greenwich’s time zone, the leap second is already in the mix when you do your countdown and shout, “Happy New Year!”)