More on leap year

India
February 26, 2012 9:51am CST
The Gregorian calendar consists of Leap years that have 366 days, and ordinary years with 365 days. The earth takes 365 days, 5 hours and 49 minutes(11 minutes less than 6 hours) to make one revolution around the sun. Ordinary years take into account 365 days only, not the extra hours. These extra 6 hours add up to give one extra day every 4 years; this is the Leap year that has 366 days. So those years which are divisible by 4 are leap years. This extra day is added to February that has minimum number of days; thus instead of 28 days leap years have 29days. Now let us consider the 11 minutes, due to this we have leap years not only every 4 years but also every 400 years. To qualify for leap year, the century must be divisible by 400; thus 1700, 1800, 1900 are not leap years but 1600, 1800, 200, 2400 are leap years. I was told Julius Caesar introduced the concept of leap year about 2000 years ago, those divisible by 4 were considered as leap years. Thus numbers of leap years were more; this is rectified in Gregorian calendar, which we follow. [b]Hope you find this information useful. Add any information you have, let’s share knowledge and enrich our knowledge bank. Please comment on this and share your opinion. Thanks in advance.[/b] Let’s enjoy life to fullest. Professor ‘*^Bhuwan^*’. . 27/2/2012.
2 responses
@maezee (41985)
• United States
26 Feb 12
That's cool to know. I never understood why leap year existed. This year is a leap year, isn't it? I always wondered - what if you were born on a leap year? Would that mean you only technically age once every four years? Happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
27 Feb 12
One of my aunt's birthday is actually February 29, which means she only gets to celebrate it ones every four years, that's on leap years. We do joke about her age, but I guess every year still counts.
1 person likes this
• India
1 Mar 12
So now you got it. Professor
• India
1 Mar 12
Why not tell her to observe on 28th or 1st of April
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
26 Feb 12
Of course, we could have made days a few minutes shorter, but that would have been confusing!! LOL Don't we still have left over minutes, that have to be adjusted, every so often?
1 person likes this
• India
1 Mar 12
Yes we have Janet