What Happens During a Leap Year? Understanding February 29th
Learn what a leap year is, why we add February 29th every four years, and how it keeps our calendar in sync with the seasons.
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Leap Year: Every four years, we have a leap year, where an extra day is added to the calendar—February 29th. This adjustment compensates for the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days. By adding an extra day every four years, we keep our calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year, ensuring seasonal activities and events occur at the same times each year.
FAQs & Answers
- Why do we have leap years? Leap years are added to keep our calendar aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which is approximately 365.25 days.
- How often does a leap year occur? A leap year occurs every four years, adding an extra day to February to maintain calendar accuracy.
- What is the history of leap years? The concept of leap years dates back to the ancient Roman calendar, which was later refined by the Gregorian calendar.
- Will 2024 be a leap year? Yes, 2024 is a leap year, meaning it will include an extra day on February 29th.