JEAN MEEUS CH.25 · VSOP87 HARMONIC EPHEMERIS

2012 24 SOLAR TERMS & 72 SEASONAL PENTADS

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

In Gregorian year 2012, Start of Spring (Lichun, 315 degrees solar longitude), which marks the exact beginning of the Ren Chen (Dragon) Year Pillar in Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi) and Flying Star Feng Shui, occurs on 04/02/2012 at 17:22:24 Vietnam Standard Time (UTC+7). The four cardinal astronomical points of 2012 fall on 20/03 at 12:14 for the Vernal Equinox (0°), 21/06 at 06:08 for the Summer Solstice (90°), 22/09 at 21:48 for the Autumnal Equinox (180°), and 21/12 at 18:11 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 2012

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 22:44Z 13/12 Xin Chou
2 Major Cold (Dahan) 300° 20/01 16:09Z 27/12 Xin Chou
3 Start of Spring (Lichun) 315° 04/02 10:22Z 13/01 Ren Yin
4 Rain Water (Yushui) 330° 19/02 06:17Z 28/01 Ren Yin
5 Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) 345° 05/03 04:20Z 13/02 Gui Mao
6 Vernal Equinox (Chunfen) 0° 20/03 05:14Z 28/02 Gui Mao
7 Pure Brightness (Qingming) 15° 04/04 09:05Z 14/03 Jia Chen
8 Grain Rain (Guyu) 30° 19/04 16:12Z 29/03 Jia Chen
9 Start of Summer (Lixia) 45° 05/05 02:19Z 15/04 Yi Si
10 Grain Buds (Xiaoman) 60° 20/05 15:15Z 30/04 Yi Si
11 Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) 75° 05/06 06:25Z 16/04 (L) Bing Wu
12 Summer Solstice (Xiazhi) 90° 20/06 23:08Z 03/05 Bing Wu
13 Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) 105° 06/07 16:40Z 18/05 Ding Wei
14 Major Heat (Dashu) 120° 22/07 10:00Z 04/06 Ding Wei
15 Start of Autumn (Liqiu) 135° 07/08 02:30Z 20/06 Wu Shen
16 End of Heat (Chushu) 150° 22/08 17:06Z 07/07 Wu Shen
17 White Dew (Bailu) 165° 07/09 05:28Z 22/07 Ji You
18 Autumnal Equinox (Qiufen) 180° 22/09 14:48Z 07/08 Ji You
19 Cold Dew (Hanlu) 195° 07/10 21:11Z 23/08 Geng Xu
20 Frost Descent (Shuangjiang) 210° 23/10 00:13Z 09/09 Geng Xu
21 Start of Winter (Lidong) 225° 07/11 00:25Z 24/09 Xin Hai
22 Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) 240° 21/11 21:49Z 09/10 Xin Hai
23 Major Snow (Daxue) 255° 06/12 17:18Z 24/10 Ren Zi
24 Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) 270° 21/12 11:11Z 09/11 Ren Zi

The 72 Ecological Pentads of 2012

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