# It is a matter of time, and who keeps it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697 "2007-09-19T02:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seenidog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@seenidog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seenidog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/1 "2007-09-19T02:57:56Z")
Where I work it recently came up that many of our computers disagree on what time it is. Easily solved by a time server adjustment at boot up. Here is the real question: who is the official time keeper of the United States? We heard of many universities, a few observatories, The U.S. Bureau of Standards and me being the only one saying the U.S. Navy. It is pointless in as much as any would far exceed any need we have. But who is the official timekeeper? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/2 "2007-09-19T03:01:35Z")
[NIST](http://tf.nist.gov/cesium/fountain.htm). ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/3 "2007-09-19T03:02:37Z")
The [US Directorate of Time](http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/) is a part of the US Navy, according to their website. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/4 "2007-09-19T03:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=PaulParkhead] The [US Directorate of Time](http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/) is a part of the US Navy, according to their website. [/QUOTE] From a [link](http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/clockdev/cesium.html) on that site: > [@](#): > > The USNO fountain is designed to be a reference device, not a primary frequency standard. In other words, our device does not have to โ€œtickโ€ at precisely one second, (the job of defining the second in the US belongs to NIST) but must be as stable as possible. The primary standard is the NIST cesium clock in Boulder, CO. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/5 "2007-09-19T03:27:38Z")
Cool, thanks for the information ๐Ÿ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![seenidog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@seenidog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seenidog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/6 "2007-09-19T03:38:03Z")
So for about the kabillionth time in a row, I was close. but wrong. NIST is the authority, and is not a part of or funded by the US Navy. I take small comfort in knowing everyone else was wrong as well. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/7 "2007-09-19T03:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=seenidog] I take small comfort in knowing everyone else was wrong as well. [/QUOTE] Not quite everyone. [NIST](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIST) was originally known as the National Bureau of Standards until 1988. ---
**Author:** ![seenidog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@seenidog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seenidog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-matter-of-time-and-who-keeps-it/419697/8 "2007-09-19T03:52:10Z")
Touche. I got toasted. It will be quite a test of my integrity to give that information to those who can shove it up my nose.