Solar terms in 1979
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 1979, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 06:31 AM | Jan 5 10:31 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 11:59 PM | Jan 20 03:59 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 06:12 PM | Feb 4 10:12 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 02:13 PM | Feb 19 06:13 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 6 12:19 PM | Mar 6 04:19 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 21 01:21 PM | Mar 21 05:21 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 05:17 PM | Apr 5 09:17 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 21 12:35 AM | Apr 20 04:35 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 6 10:47 AM | May 6 02:47 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 11:53 PM | May 21 03:53 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 03:05 PM | Jun 6 07:05 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 22 07:56 AM | Jun 21 11:56 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 8 01:24 AM | Jul 7 05:24 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 06:48 PM | Jul 23 10:48 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 8 11:11 AM | Aug 8 03:11 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 24 01:46 AM | Aug 23 05:46 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 8 01:59 PM | Sep 8 05:59 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 11:16 PM | Sep 23 03:16 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 9 05:30 AM | Oct 8 09:30 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 24 08:28 AM | Oct 24 12:28 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 8 08:33 AM | Nov 8 12:33 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 23 05:54 AM | Nov 22 09:54 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 8 01:18 AM | Dec 7 05:18 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 07:09 PM | Dec 22 11:09 AM | 270° | The shortest day in the north. |
Each term is the moment the Sun reaches a set position, so its date is a calculation, not a custom. The names come from farming life in the Yellow River valley and fit other climates loosely.