Local time in Crimea is ahead of astronomical time… What does this mean? And what to do about it?

When they say that local time in Crimea is ahead of astronomical time — https://your-online.ru/time/ru/respublika-krym/simferopolthis means that the time established in the territory (the official one, which is visible on the clock) differs from the one that should be according to the position of the Sun at a given geographical point.

Astronomical time is determined by the position of the Sun in the sky. It takes into account the natural cycles of day and night, when the Sun is at its zenith at exactly noon. However, official time may differ due to various factors, such as administrative decisions to establish a time zone or seasonal time (such as daylight saving time).

Moscow time officially operates in Crimea (UTC+3). At the same time, according to geographical coordinates, Crimea should be located in the UTC+2 time zone. Thus, the difference between astronomical and local time is approximately one hour — local time is ahead of astronomical time. This could mean that solar noon occurs around 13:00 local time.

• jet lag (circadian rhythm): The human body is adapted to the light-dark cycle, which is directly related to astronomical time, that is, the time of sunrise and sunset. If the official time zone is ahead of astronomical time, then the body begins to work according to the “wrong” light cycle, which can lead to disruptions in circadian rhythms. This affects the production of hormones such as melatonin (the sleep hormone) and can cause problems with sleep and decreased energy levels.
• sleep quality: When daylight hours don’t coincide with your daily routine, it can be harder to fall asleep on time. For example, if it gets dark later, a person may have difficulty falling asleep even though the official time is later. This can lead to chronic lack of sleep, fatigue and poor health.
• seasonal affective disorder: For some people, the effects of time can increase seasonal depression or anxiety, especially in winter when daylight hours are already short. Waking up at local time while it is still dark outside can increase feelings of fatigue and depressed mood.
• the body getting used to the wrong regime: Constant violation of astronomical time can lead to people getting into the habit of getting up and going to bed at times that are not biologically appropriate. This increases the risk of problems such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and decreased immunity.

In other words, although many people can adapt to time zone changes, in the long term, constantly being out of step with natural jet lag can have negative health effects.

What to do

As of September 30, 2024, judging by data from special services, local time in Crimea is 33 minutes 22 seconds ahead of astronomical time. Is this gap big or not? Will it decrease or, on the contrary, increase?

Experts here say: the difference of 33 minutes 22 seconds between local and astronomical time is considered relatively small. Although this deviation may cause small changes in biorhythms, it is not significant enough to significantly affect the health of most people. A gap of more than an hour would be more noticeable and potentially harmful.

As for the future, the gap between local and astronomical time may gradually change due to the natural shift of the Earth’s axis and changes in the length of the day (due to the tidal interaction of the Earth and the Moon). However, such changes are happening very slowly and in practice they will not have a significant impact in the coming years. Official time in Crimea will remain Moscow (UTC+3) unless administrative decisions are made to change the time zone.

To minimize possible negative effects on the body:

• maintain a regular sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, trying to follow your natural sleep-wake cycle.
• more time in the sun: Morning light helps reset your internal clock and adjust your circadian rhythm.
• avoid bright light in the evening: This will help the body adjust to sleep more easily.
• outdoor activities: Physical activity also helps you synchronize with the natural rhythm of the day.

The gap between local and astronomical time will remain approximately the same in the near future, unless there are changes in policy or geophysical factors.