Solar terms in 2005
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2005, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 02:03 PM | Jan 5 06:03 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 07:21 AM | Jan 19 11:21 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 01:43 AM | Feb 3 05:43 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 09:32 PM | Feb 18 01:32 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 07:45 PM | Mar 5 11:45 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 08:33 PM | Mar 20 12:33 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 12:34 AM | Apr 4 04:34 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 07:37 AM | Apr 19 11:37 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 05:53 PM | May 5 09:53 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 06:47 AM | May 20 10:47 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 10:02 PM | Jun 5 02:02 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 02:46 PM | Jun 21 06:46 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 08:16 AM | Jul 7 12:16 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 01:40 AM | Jul 22 05:40 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 06:03 PM | Aug 7 10:03 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 08:45 AM | Aug 23 12:45 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 08:56 PM | Sep 7 12:56 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 06:22 AM | Sep 22 10:22 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 12:33 PM | Oct 8 04:33 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 03:42 PM | Oct 23 07:42 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 03:42 PM | Nov 7 07:42 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 01:15 PM | Nov 22 05:15 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 08:33 AM | Dec 7 12:33 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 02:35 AM | Dec 21 06:35 PM | 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.