Solar terms in 2046
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2046, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 12:55 PM | Jan 5 04:55 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 06:15 AM | Jan 19 10:15 PM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 12:30 AM | Feb 3 04:30 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 18 08:15 PM | Feb 18 12:15 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 06:17 PM | Mar 5 10:17 AM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 06:57 PM | Mar 20 10:57 AM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 4 10:44 PM | Apr 4 02:44 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 05:38 AM | Apr 19 09:38 PM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 03:40 PM | May 5 07:40 AM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 04:28 AM | May 20 08:28 PM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 5 07:31 PM | Jun 5 11:31 AM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 12:14 PM | Jun 21 04:14 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 05:40 AM | Jul 6 09:40 PM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 22 11:08 PM | Jul 22 03:08 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 03:33 PM | Aug 7 07:33 AM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 06:24 AM | Aug 22 10:24 PM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 06:43 PM | Sep 7 10:43 AM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 04:21 AM | Sep 22 08:21 PM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 10:42 AM | Oct 8 02:42 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 02:03 PM | Oct 23 06:03 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 02:14 PM | Nov 7 06:14 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 11:56 AM | Nov 22 03:56 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 07:21 AM | Dec 6 11:21 PM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 01:28 AM | Dec 21 05:28 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.