Countdown to Equinoctial Planetconjunction (CEP)
and
personal earthday count (pec).

A new timekeeping concept from CALENdeRsign

 

Before presenting the innovative timekeeping systems CEP and pec we want to introduce you some principals of time. This is necessary to understand this concept being in harmony with ancient and modern timekeeping and making the next big step since fixing of A.D. by Dionysius Exiguus.

Generally, if we talk about time and calendars,  with time we usually mean  how we measure time with a clock and with calendar we mean periods caused by the movement of earth or celestial bodies.

What is time itself and how can we experience it?

St. Augustine, who once said he would know what time is as long as he were not asked for a definition, also wrote the following:
Certainly I know that there would be no past time, if nothing would pass, and  no future time would come, if nothing would come, and nothing would exist, if there would be no present time. (Confessiones, XI. Chapt XIV, part 17).

This example shows us how time can be experienced, namely as a moment before or after the proverbial jumping point – the nothing. As in the case of St. Augustine, with the calendar, a certain point of zero is a point of reference, from which or towards which the measurement of time is focused. It is interesting that epoch (from Greek epoch = stop for a short period of time) and moment (from Latin momentum = reason of movement, point of time, juncture)  express the similar meaning: the certain point of a movement, as it stops for a split second and thus loses velocity. Simply and in brief, movement without velocity is a moment, like one single frame from a motion picture film. 

Time and space are linked with each other by velocity.
The formula is: Time = distance/velocity. Velocity therefore is distance/time, expressed in m/sec, km/h or lightpath throughout one year, i.e. the distance the light goes in one year. 
We see that to measure the time exactly we need something that moves with invariable speed and an exactly defined spatial distance between starting point and finish.

Actually we have another fundamental type of time measurement system that uses cyclical periods. Its fundamental quantity, the second, once was determined by Earth’s rotation, or briefly the smallest naturally given component of the calendar which is the the DAY. Its length does not depend on the watch, but only on the position of the sun!

To measure time we have clocks that use more precise natural constants or periods than the uneven movements of Earth like rotation (day) and orbit (year). The definition of one second is no longer 1 / 86,400 of a 24-hour day, but a certain multiple of the period of oscillation of a Cesium atom. According to international agreement (SI) one second is 9192631770 times the period of the radiation that corresponds to a flapping of the 133Cs outermost electron's spin from -1/2 to +1/2 (or backwards).

Because Earth rotation and orbit are not invariable,  are added about once a year into  (UTC) time scala. The Earth is constantly undergoing a deceleration caused by the braking action of the tides. Through the use of ancient observations of eclipses, it is possible to determine the average deceleration of the Earth to be roughly 1.4 milliseconds per day per century. This deceleration  causes the Earth's rotational time to slow with respect to the atomic clock time. The length of the mean solar day has increased by roughly 2 milliseconds up to year 2000 since it was exactly 86,400 seconds in about 1820. Therefore leap secondsmust be interpolated once or twice a year into  Universal Time Coordinated ( UTC) because of the irregularity of Earth’s rotation, to keep UTC on the right “start-of-the-day” track, like a ship in a stormy sea in its course. If these leap seconds were not added, the UTC midnight-clock would eventually ring at sunrise after many years. The “hourly time ship” would drift off its course. See the diffrence of UTC and TAI seconds. TAI is the International Atomic Time scale, a statistical timescale counting continously "atomic seconds only" based on a large number of atomic clocks.

Leap days keep the “calendar time ship” on its course and the seasons in their definite places in the solar calendar and the moon phases in the lunar calendar. Leap days that do not conform with Earth's movements would make the “calendar ship” drift off its course. This was for example the case with Julian calendar and cause of the Gregorian reform. The leap day rule of the Gregorian calendar already requires another correction,  because the vernal equinox soon will take place on March 19th.

Let us now take a short look at the history and  the character of calendrical timekeeping:
The whole day, which is composed of daylight and night due to sun's position, is the fundamental and undividable base of the calendar. Therefore we measure it by the angle that the sun describes, as observed during one Earth’s rotation. Please note that this angle is not 360°, but a bit more, because in one day, Earth has moved forward on its orbit in respect to the sun and therefore has to rotate forward the angle a, to return to the same position as at begin of the day. 


(The red point marks a position on Earth's equator) 
In one day rotation of Earth is 360° + a

Pls note: The essential moment or starting point used to measure calendrical time is a celestial alignment. The actual event of an alignment means that three different positions in space are located along a line, just as if you aim with a rifle. The three points in a line are given with the eye, the aiming device and the target. Any planetary alignment is formed by Earth and two planets in a straight line, and the period of such alignments is given by the amount of time, as long as it takes from one such alignment  until the next. Usually we forget that the observer or the point of observation always represents one of the three positions. In the case of the above mentioned measurement of the day lengths at start at lower culmination (midnight) the three points are: (red) point of observation on equator; center of Earth; center of the sun.

Because of Earth's movement we have several quantities for calendrical periods:

Now shall be shown the fundamental difference between physical time of a watch and calendrical time, based on Earth’s movement:
Calendrical time spans, expressed in calendar days or calendar years, at first glance represent peculiarities in quantities of measurement. Their components are not such familiar time spans as hours, minutes or seconds, that are referenced to atomic oscillation.

As paradoxical as it sounds, it is very simple: Self-referential is the right expression to explain the characteristic of a calendar: days and year refer to each other. The number of days determines the duration of the year and vice versa, the duration of the year determines the number of days.

A correct calendar references only the movements of Earth and puts the days and the year in relation.
How does this work?
Astronomers measure with highest precision the duration of  Earth’s rotation and Earth’s orbit and express it exactly in split seconds, using atomic oscillation.

To create a solar calendar it is important, how many average synodic Earth’s rotations (days) fit into Earth’s orbit (tropical year), because this gives the numbers of the days in a year and is the base of the leap day rule.

Let us call the number of seconds (or oscillations) of an average earth rotation “d” and the number for the orbit “y”. This results in the very simple formula:
x * d sec = y sec; how many "d sec" (seconds of a day) result in the "y sec" (seconds of a year); 
x = y/d . 
The result is the fraction of the y/d and gives the average amount of days in a year or vice versa, what part of a year is the day. The quantity "second" is reduced at this fraction.

d sec : Average synodic Earth’s rotation from lower sun’s culmination to the next, expressed in seconds of cesium atom periods
y sec : Average Earth’s orbit between two equinoxes (tropical year), expressed in seconds of cesium atom periods
Both values are measured with watches using the cesium atom period. 

Calculated with currently most precise data the reckoning is:

d = 86400.002 SI sec;  or 794243403313263,54 of 133Cs periods
y = 31556925,974592 SI sec; or 290091200277572631,98784 of 133Cs periods

x (number of average days in tropical year)  = 365,242190325319668

The calendrical time is independent of the physical time of a watch. It may sound like a paradox, but the calendrical time is not affected, if Earth’s orbit and the rotation of Earth slows down in same ratio. The number of days in a year would be the same, though our watches would show more than 24 hours a day. Physically considered quantities like calendar days or calendar years are numbers without physical dimension. The final reason, why the calendar does not have any physical dimension is that it is composed of angles between different alignments put in relation to each other. Or, compared to a watch: The hours don’t go faster if the watch is huge or slower if it is tiny. Think a huge watch with a diameter of let’s say 100 meters. You are almost ready to join the Olympic games if you can follow the end of the hand that shows the seconds of this watch. But now compare this movement with the hand showing the seconds of the watch at your arm. You see, it’s the angle that counts. Earth itself is a similar watch, but much bigger, with the sun as a hinge point.

But now to the starting points of the yearly counts,  often also called epoch or era.

Almost all cultures of the world use mythical or factual alignments of two or more planets as an arbitrary linking point for counting the years. The idea is very simple and can be expressed by using an analogue watch with hourly, minute and second hands. If all three hands of the watch align at point zero (12:00), a new time period (the day) begins.

In ancient astronomy the planets of the solar system are paralleled by a watch with seven hands. In analogy to chronology, when all planets align, the GRAND YEAR occurs and a new LARGE YEAR begins. Since antiquity, this LARGE YEAR was seen as the period between two GRAND YEARS.

 

Graphic: The significance of the alignment of all classical planets for the adjustment of yearly counts

 

As shown, the Indian age Kali Yuga is defined in that way as well as the adjustment of the AD count by Dionysius Exiguus.

There is another ancient, mythical and "astrohistorical" point of view that results in a period called the PLATONIC YEAR, which is the sum of the PLATONIC MONTH, given by the constellations of the eclipitic. This is caused by the wobble of Earth’s axis and results in the precessional shift of the equinoxes and solstices in relation to the fixed stars.

 Two opposing major points of view on  the significance of this celestial movement, which results in the appearance of a new vernal equinox constellation (now Aquarius),  differ by about 600 years:

 1) The archeoastronomical or traditional astrological view on the beginning of a new Platonic month:
No stars of the former spring constellation (Pisces) are visible on the morning of the Northward Spring Equinox (NSE) on the eastern horizon before sunrise (archeoastronomical view) and a new constellation announces the rosy dawn. Or, the point of spring equinox has moved 30° from the point where it was at the beginning of the Age of Pisces in 150 BCE (astrological view). These conditions recently have been fulfilled.
2) The astronomical view on the beginning of the Platonic month:
The sun, at this moment of spring equinox (NSE) must be within the borders of  the new spring equinox constellation, as they were defined in 1928  by the conference of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The vernal equinox sun will not enter the IAU borders of the constellation Aquarius until about 2600 CE.


Astrochronological Concept of GRAND YEAR and PLATONIC YEAR/MONTH.

LARGE YEAR: the period between two GRAND YEARS

GRAND YEAR: a year when an alignment of  all classical planets take place

PLATONIC MONTH: it begins, when a new spring equinox constellation due occurs to precession

PLATONIC YEAR: Sum of all Platonic month, or one gyroscopic cycle of Earth’s axis due to its wobble that causes the precession of the equinoxes in relation to the constellations.


        CE: Common Gregorian Era
        BCE: Before Common Era
        JE: Julian Calendar
        JDN: Julian Day Number
        CEP: Countdown to Equinoctial Planetconjunction

 

 Image: Alignments of naked eye (classical) planets

 

If we take into consideration both points of view in addition to the GRAND YEAR (the alignment of all planets) we find that in 2000 CE a GRAND YEAR - alignment took place, and a new vernal constellation apperaed in the dawn, both events very important in the archeoastronomical or traditional astrological view.  The alignment of May 5th, 2000 formed the basis for the adjustment of the yearly count by Dionysius Exiguus. His calculation,  however, used  the incorrect constant of precession,  the value 66.6y/1°.

If we take into account the modern astronomical view, we have to search for a moment in time when a GRAND YEAR, i.e. an alignment of all planets, occurs and the Spring Equinox sun comes within the IAU borders of Aquarius.
These conditions will occur on the day of vernal equinox in 673 years (20-3-2675 CE), when all classical planets as well as the “modern” planets Uranus and Neptune will closely align.

On this day the three conditions will be fulfilled and three main concepts of human timekeeping will coincide:

That all these conditions coincide is so rare that it is not now calculable when or if a conjunction of all classical planets within a span of only 22° will ever be repeated on the NSE.

We consider this event as an important alignment that is very useful as a unique, magical moment for timekeeping and as a kind of cosmic doomsday to anticipate, as well as for dating history.

If we remember the Grand-Year-effects of the adjustment of AD in the Gregorian calendar, Kali Yuga or several other historical events, we can imagine the influence this alignment will have on future cultures.



CEP

Therefore as a commemoration, CALENdeRsign designed CEP (Countdown to Equinoctial Planetary alignment).

For example:
01-01-2000 =  CEP 246,617
01-01-2002 =  CEP 245,886
20-03-2675 =  CEP 0

Today's CEP date is: 

The current CEP date may be may be found always on the website of CALENdeRsign.

Point zero of CEP is anchored at the alignment. This way of  counting days provides us with an interreligious and global astronomy- and astrology-based, calendar system that is easily compatible with a new solar, lunisolar or planetary timekeeping system in future.

CEP could replace the Julian day count (JDN), which is based on superstitious medieval Christian mysticism. 

The conversion between  CEP and Julian Day Number, JDN, is easy:
CEP = JDN -2,698,162.
For example: 14 Feb 2003 CE, 12:00:00 UT has Julian Day Number  (JDN) 2,452,685.00000
CEP = 2,452,685.00000  -2,698,162  = -245,477
 

CEP provides us with a new anchorage in time that is not burdened by imprecise religious tradition, belief, or nonbelief.

The Grand-Year-Alignment of the spring equinox day, CEP 0 (March 20th, 2675), is mirrored on a scale of 1:1 billion in a 7 km-long park, called Planet Trail "HEAVEN on EARTH", located in a tourist area of the Eastern Alps of Austria.

The CEP data of any day can be found at the free calendar-conversion-propram Calendar Magic V16.4.

 

  pec

As shown, CEP focuses on a specific day of future common orientation of time keeping with a daily count.

However, there also is available a past-oriented, individually and personally significant day count for everyone, and it begins on a date of which everyone is aware.

CALENdeRsign calls this count “pec” (personal earthday count). It counts the earthly days of anybody since the day of his or her birth.

You can retrieve your recent pec-date by simply sending an email with your birthdate to  CALENdeRsign@chello.at.

This pec count provides you with a lot of new dates you can celebrate, such as any 1000th or 100th day living on Earth.

Did you ever think about celebrating your 10,000th day on earth at age 27  or your 20,000th day at age 54?

And what a surprise you could give your friends, congratulating them on reaching their 12,345th day at age 33, or the 22,222nd  day  at age 60, or any other day number that has personal significance, e.g:   7*7*7*7*7 = 16,807 days at age 46.

CALENdeRsign can provide you with any exact personal date or date difference you wish and a lot of surprising discoveries that results from this new count.

You can figure out for yourself the lucky number of days and devise your own methods of timekeeping, such as some companies that use shift work and thus don’t follow the Gregorian seven-day week rhythm.

We hope we have given you  new insights and ideas, not only about  the past, but also future timekeeping.

In closing we cite Friedrich Nietzsche, who wrote:
" …  time is reckoned since this dies nefastus (day of bad luck), with which the disaster started, - since the first day of Christianity! – Why not reckon from his last day? Since today? – Let us reconsider all paradigms!" 

 

Edited by CALENdeRsign
 Northward Spring Equinox,  673 years before CEP = 0; CEP 245,800

CEP-Calendar for Jan - Jun 010

CEP-Calendar for Jul - Dec 010