why do we have the extra day in February every 4th year.
2007-09-04 09:35:12 · 14 answers · asked by Roxy. 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
A year is actually 365.25 days.
Therefore every four years we are 1 day out.
So every four years we pop an extra day in!
2007-09-04 09:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by JuJu 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The only century years that are leap years are those that can be divided evenly by 400 such as 1600 and 2000. Leap years were added to the calendar to make the calendar year nearly the same as the solar year which is the time it takes for the sun to pass the vernal equinox twice. The extra day is added to the end of February and occurs a February 29 once every four years,
2007-09-04 12:03:16 · answer #2 · answered by plyjanney 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OOh I am sure the scientific guys will give a precise reason but as far as I am aware the 24 hours a day and 365 days a year does not equal the true time exactly and an extra day every 4 years on February 29th. is used to balance the whole thing up. Not the most perfect scientific explanation I know.
2007-09-04 10:38:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Going off the Gregorian calendar, the year is actually 365 days and a quarter. So every four years, we add one extra day to round the quarters off. This occurs in February because it only has 28 days and 29 in a leap year.
2007-09-04 09:43:32 · answer #4 · answered by Old Man of Coniston!. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To keep the Lunar Calendar in line with the Solar calendar.
The earth actually revolves around the sun in a little under 365.25 days.
We miss Leap Years every 400 years to rebalance it.
2007-09-04 09:42:28 · answer #5 · answered by alan h 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
2008 the rule is: All years divisable via 4 are bounce years, apart from centuries which will desire to be divisable via 4 hundred. So 1600 and 2000 have been bounce years, yet not 1900, 1800, etc
2016-11-14 04:51:26 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 365.25 explanation is of course correct but there are a number of official documents about in which my birthday is 30th February. It was never queried. Cant do it now of course with computers recording everything
2007-09-04 11:23:20 · answer #7 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
JuJu is right but there are a few minutes drift and so at the end of certain centuries there is no leap year. 2000 was not one of them but I think 2100 will be. Not that it will matter to most if any of us hear
2007-09-04 10:31:00 · answer #8 · answered by Scouse 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you get to my age an extra day in the year is something to look forward to.
2007-09-04 12:28:10 · answer #9 · answered by HaSiCiT Bust A Tie A1 TieBusters 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I will have to wait until next year will I to send out any proposals in that that case, sad that.
2007-09-04 19:04:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋