[tz] [PROPOSED PATCH 2/4] Phase out invented abbrs for Antarctica

[Lester Caine]

On 24/08/16 06:22, Alexander Belopolsky wrote:
>> These indicate that our old abbreviations are dubious too. The first decree talks about "Петроградского гражданского времени" (Petrograd civil time),
> I don't think abbreviations for old zones in non English speaking countries can be justified by historical usage.  Before the switch to the GMT based system, the timekeeping in Russia was based on Pulkov time - the time measured at the Pulkov observatory near St. Petersburg.  That observatory has an easy to remember location: it is almost exactly at 30 degrees east longitude and 60 degrees north latitude.  This means UTC+2 LMT and 1/2 hour behind Moscow LMT.  I don't think Moscow solar time was ever used for precise time keeping.  Pulkov time was important for navigation- Russian navy used Pulkov meridian as 0 longitude before Greenwich became the international standard. 

Prior to Pulkov time being established, then solar time is all that can
be assumed. Totally OT for tz discussions, but historic references prior
to any formal timing methods such as sunrise, midday, and sunset in
Moscow need a solar base and are as precise as the people at the time
could be ;)

So when Russia started standardising on Pulkov time is an historic
point, and one would assume that prior to that some local standards
would have existed much as the 'town' times in the UK? Documentary
evidence of which may start to appear? We have had the discussion that
much historic material in tz WAS fabricated to give a consistent base,
and some gaps will never be authenticated, but the additional material
that has been uncovered needs a reliable home!

-- 
Lester Caine - G8HFL
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