Chronometric singularity

A chronometric singularity (also called a temporal or horological singularity) is a point at which time cannot be measured or described.

An example involves a time at a coordinate singularity, e.g.a geographical pole. Since time on Earth is measured through longitudes, and no unique longitude exists at a pole, time is not defined uniquely at this point. There is a clear connection with coordinate singularities, as can be seen from this example. In relativity, similar singularities can be found in the case of Schwarzschild coordinates.

Stephen Hawking once compared by a talk-show guest's question about "before the beginning of time" to asking "what's north of the north pole".[1]

See also

References
  1. What is Cosmology?, wiseGEEK.com. Accessed 15 Feb 2013. In a related discussion, he mentions this again : The Beginning of Time – Stephen Hawking Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine; accessed 15 Feb 2013.


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