Bissextus
Encyclopedia
Bissext, or bissextus the
day intercalated by the Julian calendar
in the February of every
fourth year to make up the six hours by which the solar year was
computed to exceed the year of 365 days. The day was inserted
after 24 February, i.e. the sixth day before the calends
(1st) of March; there was consequently, besides the sextus, or
sixth before the calends, the bis-sextus or "second sixth," our
25 February. In modern usage, with the exception of
ecclesiastical calendars, the intercalary day is added for convenience
at the end of the month, and years in which February
has twenty-nine days are called "bissextile," or leap year
s.
day intercalated by the Julian calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
in the February of every
fourth year to make up the six hours by which the solar year was
computed to exceed the year of 365 days. The day was inserted
after 24 February, i.e. the sixth day before the calends
(1st) of March; there was consequently, besides the sextus, or
sixth before the calends, the bis-sextus or "second sixth," our
25 February. In modern usage, with the exception of
ecclesiastical calendars, the intercalary day is added for convenience
at the end of the month, and years in which February
has twenty-nine days are called "bissextile," or leap year
Leap year
A leap year is a year containing one extra day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year...
s.