JEAN MEEUS CH.25 · VSOP87 HARMONIC EPHEMERIS

1998 24 SOLAR TERMS & 72 SEASONAL PENTADS

Solar Ephemeris Summary UTC+7 (Vietnam) & UTC Reference

In Gregorian year 1998, Start of Spring (Lichun, 315 degrees solar longitude), which marks the exact beginning of the Wu Yin (Tiger) Year Pillar in Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi) and Flying Star Feng Shui, occurs on 04/02/1998 at 07:56:53 Vietnam Standard Time (UTC+7). The four cardinal astronomical points of 1998 fall on 21/03 at 02:54 for the Vernal Equinox (0°), 21/06 at 21:02 for the Summer Solstice (90°), 23/09 at 12:37 for the Autumnal Equinox (180°), and 22/12 at 08:56 for the Winter Solstice (270°). All 24 timestamps below are computed via Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar longitude series with VSOP87 harmonic corrections.

Exact 24 Solar Terms Schedule for 1998

Sectional Terms (Jie) initiate each new Solar-Term Month Pillar in Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi); Principal Terms (Qi) govern lunar leap-month placement.

# Solar Term Ecliptic Vietnam Time (UTC+7) Universal Time (UTC) Lunar Date (UTC+7) BaZi Month Pillar
1 Minor Cold (Xiaohan) 285° 05/01 13:18Z 08/12 Gui Chou
2 Major Cold (Dahan) 300° 20/01 06:46Z 23/12 Gui Chou
3 Start of Spring (Lichun) 315° 04/02 00:56Z 08/01 Jia Yin
4 Rain Water (Yushui) 330° 18/02 20:54Z 23/01 Jia Yin
5 Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) 345° 05/03 18:57Z 08/02 Yi Mao
6 Vernal Equinox (Chunfen) 0° 20/03 19:54Z 23/02 Yi Mao
7 Pure Brightness (Qingming) 15° 04/04 23:44Z 09/03 Bing Chen
8 Grain Rain (Guyu) 30° 20/04 06:56Z 24/03 Bing Chen
9 Start of Summer (Lixia) 45° 05/05 17:03Z 11/04 Ding Si
10 Grain Buds (Xiaoman) 60° 21/05 06:05Z 26/04 Ding Si
11 Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) 75° 05/06 21:13Z 12/05 Wu Wu
12 Summer Solstice (Xiazhi) 90° 21/06 14:02Z 27/05 Wu Wu
13 Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) 105° 07/07 07:30Z 14/05 (L) Ji Wei
14 Major Heat (Dashu) 120° 23/07 00:55Z 01/06 Ji Wei
15 Start of Autumn (Liqiu) 135° 07/08 17:19Z 17/06 Geng Shen
16 End of Heat (Chushu) 150° 23/08 07:59Z 02/07 Geng Shen
17 White Dew (Bailu) 165° 07/09 20:16Z 18/07 Xin You
18 Autumnal Equinox (Qiufen) 180° 23/09 05:37Z 03/08 Xin You
19 Cold Dew (Hanlu) 195° 08/10 11:56Z 18/08 Ren Xu
20 Frost Descent (Shuangjiang) 210° 23/10 14:59Z 04/09 Ren Xu
21 Start of Winter (Lidong) 225° 07/11 15:08Z 19/09 Gui Hai
22 Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) 240° 22/11 12:34Z 04/10 Gui Hai
23 Major Snow (Daxue) 255° 07/12 08:01Z 19/10 Jia Zi
24 Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) 270° 22/12 01:56Z 04/11 Jia Zi

The 72 Ecological Pentads of 1998

Solar Term First Pentad (Day 1-5) Second Pentad (Day 6-10) Third Pentad (Day 11-15)
Minor Cold (Xiaohan) Wild geese turn back toward the north Magpies begin building lofty nests Pheasants call out across snowy ridges
Major Cold (Dahan) Hens begin brooding early clutches Birds of prey soar swiftly in cold wind Thick ice seals lakes and streams
Start of Spring (Lichun) East wind thaws the frozen earth Hibernating insects stir underground Fish rise beneath the melting ice
Rain Water (Yushui) Otters offer fish along riverbanks Wild geese return northward Trees and grasses sprout tender buds
Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) Peach blossoms open in spring warmth Orioles sing in the morning mist Hawks transform into gentle cuckoos
Vernal Equinox (Chunfen) Swallows return to build eaves nests First spring thunder rolls across the sky Early lightning illuminates the clouds
Pure Brightness (Qingming) Paulownia trees burst into bloom Field Voles yield to spring quails First rainbows appear after rain
Grain Rain (Guyu) Duckweed begins growing on clear ponds Turtledoves preen their wings Hoopoes perch upon mulberry branches
Start of Summer (Lixia) Tree frogs croak across the paddies Earthworms emerge from damp soil Wild gourds climb garden trellises
Grain Buds (Xiaoman) Sow thistles flourish in early summer Fine meadow grass withers under bright sun Early grain ripens for harvest
Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) Praying mantises hatch from their cases Shrikes call from woodland canopies Mockingbirds fall silent at midday
Summer Solstice (Xiazhi) Deer shed their winter antlers Cicadas begin singing in tall trees Pinellia herbs sprout in shaded soil
Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) Warm summer breezes sweep the plains Crickets shelter beside cool stone walls Young hawks learn to hunt on high cliffs
Major Heat (Dashu) Decaying grass glows with fireflies Humid earth steams in midsummer heat Heavy convective rains nourish the land
Start of Autumn (Liqiu) Cool breezes announce early autumn White morning dew gathers on leaves Evening cicadas chirp in crisp air
End of Heat (Chushu) Hawks hunt briskly across open fields Heaven and earth turn brisk and solemn Late rice grains fill and mature
White Dew (Bailu) Wild geese arrive from the far north Swallows depart for southern coasts Flocks of birds store autumn seeds
Autumnal Equinox (Qiufen) Thunder quiets and withdraws Burrowing insects seal their winter nests Rivers and ponds recede and clear
Cold Dew (Hanlu) Wild geese settle along reed marshes Clams and shells abound along quiet shores Yellow chrysanthemums bloom in frost
Frost Descent (Shuangjiang) Jackals store prey before deep cold Foliage turns golden and falls Hibernating creatures retreat underground
Start of Winter (Lidong) Thin ice forms over still water Topsoil hardens in the morning frost Pheasants dive near coastal marshes
Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) Rainbows vanish from winter skies Heavenly Qi ascends as Earthly Qi settles All nature seals in winter stillness
Major Snow (Daxue) Mountain birds fall silent in deep cold Tigers begin their winter mating cycle Hardy iris shoots stir in frozen soil
Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) Earthworms coil deep beneath frost Moose shed antlers as Yang Qi returns Underground springs begin to warm