When is the First Day of Spring 2020?
As the calendar year changes and the seasons begin to shift, many people wonder when the first day of Spring 2020 will arrive. But when exactly is the first day of Spring? Let’s dive into the world of astronomy and calendar corrections to find out.
Understanding the Calendar
The traditional calendar year starts on January 1st, with the first day of the year being known as New Year’s Day. However, in the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used calendar in the world, the year 2020 begins on March 11th. This is because the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, which means it’s based on the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Astronomical Calculations
Astronomers use the Earth’s orbit to keep track of time. The Earth takes approximately 365.2422 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. To calculate the date of the first day of Spring, astronomers use a process called mean time of year (MTOY). This is based on the fact that the Earth’s orbit is not exactly 365 days long, but rather 365.2422 days.
To account for this, astronomers add an extra day to the calendar every four years. This extra day is known as leap day. However, if the extra day falls on March 31st, the calendar will be on an extra day, effectively skipping that day.
Gregorian Calendar Corrections
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar to correct a problem in the Julian calendar, which had drifted off by about 11 minutes per year. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar by adding an extra day every four years, known as a leap day.
The first leap day occurred on February 29th, 1582, which skipped the year 1581. The next leap day occurred on March 11th, 1582, and February 29th, 1582, effectively moving the start of the year to March 11th.
When is the First Day of Spring 2020?
So, when is the first day of Spring 2020? According to the Gregorian calendar, it will be March 11th, 2020.
- Leap Day Impact: If the extra day falls on March 31st, the calendar will be on an extra day, effectively skipping March 31st. For example, if the extra day falls on March 31st, the calendar will be on March 31st, 2020, and then April 1st, 2020.
- Historical Note: The leap day correction was introduced in 1582, so if you follow the traditional calendar, you’ll still be on New Year’s Day (January 1st) in 2020.
- Leap Day Impact on March 11th: If you follow the traditional calendar, you’ll still be on March 11th in 2020, even if the extra day falls on March 31st.
Calculating the First Day of Spring 2020
If you want to know the exact date of the first day of Spring 2020, you can use a calculator or a date calculation tool. Alternatively, you can use an online calendar tool to find the first day of Spring 2020.
| Date | Calendar Name |
|---|---|
| January 1st, 2020 | Gregorian Calendar |
| March 11th, 2020 | Gregorian Calendar (Leap Day) |
| March 11th, 2020 | Traditional Calendar (New Year’s Day) |
In conclusion, the first day of Spring 2020 is March 11th, 2020. If you’re following the traditional calendar, you’ll still be on March 11th, and the extra day will be skipped in leap years.