why is our time system set up based on when the sun is at its highest point in the sky?

Question

Our time system is configured around "noon". Why isn't it configured based on the sunrise? For example zero (12am) should be at 6 am, when most poeople start their day and 12 pm would be dinnertime, now 6pm

Answer 1

It is easier to make Standard

Answer 2

For the very obvious reason that sunrise isn't at the same time every day. If you did that, the length of an hour would have to change every day. How would you make that work?

Answer 3

The time of noon till the time of the next noon can be SLIGHTLY more or less than 24 hours -- generally less than one minute. The time of sunrise to the next sunrise can vary by several minutes per day, AND it is not the same at all points on one longitude line. The time of noon is the same at all points on any single longitude lines, or varies by only minuscule amounts. The time of sunrise at different latitudes on the same longitude line can vary by HOURS. The notion of basing a time system on the time of sunrise is insanely complicated. Just try it! -- you'll hate it.

Answer 4

I also asked myself this question awhile ago. After some research and logical thinking, I realized a very simple answer: As you should know, in the summer, the closer you get to the north pole the more and more daylight there is. You've probably also heard that at the north pole, the sun never sets during the summer. When the sun finally does set, it's only for a short period of time, centered around midnight. Looking at it in that aspect, it makes complete sense to start the day at midnight.

Answer 5

Noon is easy to identify. Midnight is equidistant between noons. Sunrise and sunset vary with longitude and season.



The system used by Jews and Muslims counts the days from sunset - although an "official" sunset if often fixed at 6:00pm. That was also used by Celts. Our system was invented by the Romans. Following the Synod of Whitby, the Roman Church effectively took over the Celtic Church on 1st November 664. Celts were of the opinion that their version of Christianity came to an end at sunset on All Hallows Eve and that they didn't become subject to Roman Christianity until midnight, giving them an evening to engage in pagan customs. They had so much fun we've been doing it every year since.

Answer 6

That's stupid.

Answer 7

You are labouring under a misconception. It is based around midnight and there are 24 hours in the day. We only go back to 1 pm at 13:00 hours so that the clocks strike less.



True.