ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service

Imagine that you are spinning around in a circle like a twirling-top. When you spin around, you always face the same direction, and you spin at a fixed speed. Everything around you seems to move while you stand still.

In the same way, the Earth is spinning around its axis, just like a giant top. It completes one full rotation every 24 hours. This spinning motion is what creates day and night, and it is also what makes objects appear to move across the sky.

However, the Earth's rotation isn't perfect, and it can change over time for a variety of reasons. This is where the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) comes in.

The IERS is an organization made up of scientists and experts from around the world. They monitor the Earth's rotation and make adjustments to keep our measurements accurate. They also maintain a system of reference frames, which are used to measure and track movements on the Earth's surface and in space.

Think of it like a giant compass that tells us where things are relative to the Earth's rotation. Just like how you might use a compass to navigate your way around a map, scientists use the reference frames created by the IERS to measure the movement of the Earth, the Moon, and other objects in space.

Without the IERS, our measurements of time, location, and movement would be much less accurate. Thanks to their work, we can understand the Earth's rotation and its effects on our planet and beyond.