JEAN MEEUS CH.25 · VSOP87 HARMONIC EPHEMERIS

2013 24 SOLAR TERMS & 72 SEASONAL PENTADS

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

In Gregorian year 2013, Start of Spring (Lichun, 315 degrees solar longitude), which marks the exact beginning of the Gui Si (Snake) Year Pillar in Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi) and Flying Star Feng Shui, occurs on 03/02/2013 at 23:13:22 Vietnam Standard Time (UTC+7). The four cardinal astronomical points of 2013 fall on 20/03 at 18:01 for the Vernal Equinox (0°), 21/06 at 12:03 for the Summer Solstice (90°), 23/09 at 03:43 for the Autumnal Equinox (180°), and 22/12 at 00:11 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 2013

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 04:33Z 24/11 Gui Chou
2 Major Cold (Dahan) 300° 19/01 21:51Z 09/12 Gui Chou
3 Start of Spring (Lichun) 315° 03/02 16:13Z 23/12 Jia Yin
4 Rain Water (Yushui) 330° 18/02 12:01Z 09/01 Jia Yin
5 Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) 345° 05/03 10:14Z 24/01 Yi Mao
6 Vernal Equinox (Chunfen) 0° 20/03 11:01Z 09/02 Yi Mao
7 Pure Brightness (Qingming) 15° 04/04 15:02Z 24/02 Bing Chen
8 Grain Rain (Guyu) 30° 19/04 22:03Z 11/03 Bing Chen
9 Start of Summer (Lixia) 45° 05/05 08:18Z 26/03 Ding Si
10 Grain Buds (Xiaoman) 60° 20/05 21:09Z 12/04 Ding Si
11 Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) 75° 05/06 12:23Z 27/04 Wu Wu
12 Summer Solstice (Xiazhi) 90° 21/06 05:03Z 14/05 Wu Wu
13 Minor Heat (Xiaoshu) 105° 06/07 22:34Z 30/05 Ji Wei
14 Major Heat (Dashu) 120° 22/07 15:55Z 15/06 Ji Wei
15 Start of Autumn (Liqiu) 135° 07/08 08:20Z 01/07 Geng Shen
16 End of Heat (Chushu) 150° 22/08 23:01Z 17/07 Geng Shen
17 White Dew (Bailu) 165° 07/09 11:16Z 03/08 Xin You
18 Autumnal Equinox (Qiufen) 180° 22/09 20:43Z 19/08 Xin You
19 Cold Dew (Hanlu) 195° 08/10 02:58Z 04/09 Ren Xu
20 Frost Descent (Shuangjiang) 210° 23/10 06:09Z 19/09 Ren Xu
21 Start of Winter (Lidong) 225° 07/11 06:14Z 05/10 Gui Hai
22 Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) 240° 22/11 03:48Z 20/10 Gui Hai
23 Major Snow (Daxue) 255° 06/12 23:08Z 05/11 Jia Zi
24 Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) 270° 21/12 17:11Z 20/11 Jia Zi

The 72 Ecological Pentads of 2013

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