Solar terms in 2040
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2040, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 6 02:03 AM | Jan 5 06:03 PM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 07:20 PM | Jan 20 11:20 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 01:39 PM | Feb 4 05:39 AM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 09:23 AM | Feb 19 01:23 AM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 07:30 AM | Mar 4 11:30 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 08:11 AM | Mar 20 12:11 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 12:05 PM | Apr 4 04:05 AM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 19 06:59 PM | Apr 19 10:59 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 05:09 AM | May 4 09:09 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 20 05:55 PM | May 20 09:55 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 09:08 AM | Jun 5 01:08 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 01:46 AM | Jun 20 05:46 PM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 6 07:19 PM | Jul 6 11:19 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 12:40 PM | Jul 22 04:40 AM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 05:10 AM | Aug 6 09:10 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 22 07:53 PM | Aug 22 11:53 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 08:14 AM | Sep 7 12:14 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 22 05:44 PM | Sep 22 09:44 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 12:05 AM | Oct 7 04:05 PM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 03:19 AM | Oct 22 07:19 PM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 03:29 AM | Nov 6 07:29 PM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 01:05 AM | Nov 21 05:05 PM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 6 08:30 PM | Dec 6 12:30 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 02:32 PM | Dec 21 06:32 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.