Crossing The Pacific Ocean: International Date Line Explained

When people fly west from North or South America to Japan, Australia and Asia, their airplane will cross the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific Ocean. Then this happens, they will be going ahead one day. 

Ever wondered why there is an International Date Line and why should you care?

LiveScience.com explains in detail the International Date Line.

Dan Heim, President of the Desert Foothills Astronomy Club, wrote:

We all heard about the International Date Line (IDL) in geography class — it was this special line on the globe where the day and date change. But beyond that, our teachers didn't say much more. 

That's probably why I keep getting questions like these on my [Dan Heim, President, Desert Foothills Astronomy Club] blog:

• What is the IDL, why do we need it, and who invented it?

• When you cross the IDL, what exactly happens?

• If you stood on the IDL with one foot on each side, what day would it be?

• Is the IDL a legal thing, or just some kind of scientific idea?

• Could Superman repeatedly fly around the world and go back in time?

• Does the IDL apply in outer space?

To see what the International Date Line is all about, go here.