Science Common Sense

1835 - What determines the twenty-four solar terms in relation to the sun's position in the sky.

The twenty-four solar terms are determined by the sun's position in relation to the Earth. Each term begins when the sun reaches a specific position on the ecliptic (the path the sun appears to follow in the sky). These positions are measured in degrees, like a big circle. The sun moves 15 degrees every 15 days or so between each term.

Think of it like this: Imagine you're standing on a big circle that goes around the Earth. The sun starts at a point, and then it moves 15 degrees to the next point, marking a new solar term. This movement is what determines each of the 24 solar terms throughout the year.