Solar terms in 2009
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2009, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 01:14 PM | Jan 5 05:14 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 06:40 AM | Jan 19 10:40 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 12:50 AM | Feb 3 04:50 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 08:46 PM | Feb 18 12:46 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 06:48 PM | Mar 5 10:48 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 07:43 PM | Mar 20 11:43 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 11:34 PM | Apr 4 03:34 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 06:44 AM | Apr 19 10:44 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 04:51 PM | May 5 08:51 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 05:51 AM | May 20 09:51 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 08:59 PM | Jun 5 12:59 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 01:45 PM | Jun 21 05:45 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 07:13 AM | Jul 6 11:13 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 12:36 AM | Jul 22 04:36 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 05:01 PM | Aug 7 09:01 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 07:38 AM | Aug 22 11:38 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 07:57 PM | Sep 7 11:57 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 05:19 AM | Sep 22 09:19 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 11:40 AM | Oct 8 03:40 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 02:43 PM | Oct 23 06:43 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 02:56 PM | Nov 7 06:56 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 12:22 PM | Nov 22 04:22 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 07:52 AM | Dec 6 11:52 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 01:46 AM | Dec 21 05:46 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.