The 24 solar terms mark positions along the Sun’s apparent annual path; they are not lunar month numbers. Understanding a term and finding a particular calendar date are different tasks. Start by deciding which answer you need. The Hong Kong Observatory explanation establishes the astronomical framework.
The angular scale
HKO describes 24 equal divisions of the 360-degree ecliptic, spaced 15 degrees apart. Vernal equinox is at 0 degrees; bright and clear is at 15 degrees. Twelve major and twelve minor terms alternate. These are positions on a scale, not numbered month cells. See HKO’s solar-terms explanation.
A useful reading habit is to separate the label from the lookup. Recognizing a term tells you what concept to investigate; it does not, by itself, establish its Gregorian date in the year you are discussing. Keep that date unfilled until you have checked the appropriate evidence.
Choose the resource by the question
The following table is an editorial reading aid, not an official calendar or conversion tool.
| Your question | Starting point | What to establish |
|---|---|---|
| What does this solar term represent? | Solar-terms explanation | Understand the angular framework before attaching a date. |
| Which Gregorian and lunar dates correspond? | Calendar-conversion resource | Obtain the relevant annual table and check the entry. |
| Can I repeat a year-specific date claim? | The relevant annual table and its notes | Retain the year and source beside the claim; leave an unsupported date unresolved. |
Limits on date claims
HKO notes that calculations decades ahead can have uncertainties of a few minutes. Near midnight, a new-moon or solar-term date in the conversion table may differ by one day. Read the qualification on the calendar-conversion page.
That is a targeted caution, not a reason to label every calendar entry unreliable. This article does not verify an annual table or provide a 2026 or 2027 conversion.
A focused next step
Write down the question before opening another resource: meaning, date correspondence, or verification of a dated statement. For a date question, include the year. When sharing the answer, keep the conceptual explanation separate from the evidence supporting the particular date. This makes it easier for another reader to see what has been established and what still needs checking.
Source check date: 25 October 2026, using supplied HKO captures rather than a live webpage check. Recheck date-specific guidance against the relevant annual table and refresh this explanation if HKO changes its calculation notes.
