astronomical year

The “horizon calendar,” proposed in a new study, relied on natural landmarks in the valley’s rugged eastern mountains, and was kept in sync with the astronomical year by a temple atop a sacred volcano.

More than any other event, it marks the beginning of the astronomical year.

Even at that early period the solar or astronomical year consisted of 365� days, like our Julian year; and it was arranged in the same manner, a day being intercalated every fourth year.

It appears that in China there is no attempt to make the civil year or year of the calendar coincide with the astronomical year.

The astronomical year is reckoned as beginning when the sun enters Capricorn, our winter solstice, and is thus more reasonably defined than is the commencement of our New Year, which is nine days late.