Time Zone History

Antarctica time zone history

Antarctica has 7 zones of its own in the tz database. Standard times run from UTC−3 (Palmer Station) to UTC+12 (Auckland), a spread of 15 hours. 1 of the 7 zones still change clocks for summer time under the current rules; the other 6 do not. The Casey Station zone has changed standard time most often since 1970: 16 times.

7 zones · 1 with seasonal clock changes under the rules in tzdata 2026f · Convert a time

The 7 zones of Antarctica since 1970

the zone’s standard time today1 hour ahead2 hours ahead3 or more hours ahead1 hour behind2 hours behindno local time recordedthe zone’s standard time today1 hour ahead2 hours ahead3 or more hours ahead1 hour behind2 hours behindno local time recorded

How to read this chart

197019801990200020102020Casey StationDavis StationMawson StationVostok StationTroll StationPalmer StationRothera Station197019902010Casey StationDavis StationMawson StationVostok StationTroll StationPalmer StationRothera Station

Zones at a glance

ZoneArea coveredStandard timeClock changes todayNew standard times since 1970
Casey StationCaseyUTC+8no16
Davis StationDavisUTC+7no4
Mawson StationMawsonUTC+5no1
Vostok StationVostokUTC+5no3
Troll StationTrollUTC+0yes0
Palmer StationPalmerUTC−3no, last in 20162
Rothera StationRotheraUTC−3no0

What sets each zone apart

  • Casey Station: The Casey Station zone has changed its standard time 16 times since 1970, the most of all 312 zones. The largest single move came on March 9, 2023, when clocks went back 3 hours, from UTC+11 to UTC+8.
  • Davis Station: The largest single move came on February 1, 1969, when clocks went forward 7 hours, from UTC+0 to UTC+7. On standard time, clocks at Davis Station run 1 hour 48 minutes ahead of local mean solar time, the sixth-largest gap of the 233 zones whose clocks run ahead of the sun.
  • Vostok Station: On standard time, clocks at Vostok Station run 2 hours 8 minutes behind local mean solar time, the largest gap of the 79 zones whose clocks run behind the sun. The largest single move came on November 1, 1994, when clocks went forward 7 hours, from UTC+0 to UTC+7.
  • Troll Station: Its seasonal clock changes since 1970 include moves of 2 hours, not the usual hour. Seasonal clock changes began only in 2005 and are still in use.
  • Palmer Station: Daylight saving time was used in 36 years since 1970, last in 2016; under the current rules the clocks no longer change. On December 4, 2016 the summer offset, UTC−3, became permanent standard time; the clocks did not move that day.

How the zones compare with Casey Station since 1970

  • Davis Station: usually 1 hour behind Casey Station; different on 1,563 days in 2009–2012 and 2016–2023.
  • Mawson Station: usually 2 hours behind Casey Station; different on 6,284 days in 2009–2026; 3 hours behind today.
  • Palmer Station: usually 11 hours behind Casey Station; different on 8,244 days in 1974, 1982–2014 and 2016–2023.
  • Rothera Station: usually 11 hours behind Casey Station; different on 4,082 days in 1970–1976, 2009–2012 and 2016–2023.
  • Troll Station: usually 8 hours behind Casey Station; different on 5,903 days in 2005–2026.
  • Vostok Station: usually 1 hour behind Casey Station; different on 2,940 days in 1994, 2009–2012 and 2016–2026; 3 hours behind today.

Every change of standard time since 1970

26 changes across the 7 zones, oldest first.

Clock changes in 2026, 2027 and 2028

  • Troll Station

    March 29, 2026 (forward 2 hours); October 25, 2026 (back 2 hours); March 28, 2027 (forward 2 hours); October 31, 2027 (back 2 hours); March 26, 2028 (forward 2 hours); October 29, 2028 (back 2 hours)

Places that follow another country’s record

  • Antarctica/McMurdo (New Zealand time - McMurdo, South Pole) follows Auckland
  • Antarctica/DumontDUrville (Dumont-d’Urville) follows Port Moresby
  • Antarctica/Syowa (Syowa) follows Saudi Arabia