Alaska Standard Time facts for kids

The Alaska Time Zone is a special area where everyone sets their clocks to the same time. It's mostly used in Alaska, a large state in the United States. This time zone is nine hours behind UTC during most of the year. UTC is like a world clock that helps everyone keep track of time together.

What is the Alaska Time Zone?

The Alaska Time Zone helps people in Alaska know what time it is. It's important because Alaska is so far west. If it used the same time as New York, the sun would rise very late in the day!

Alaska Standard Time (AKST)

Most of the year, from about fall to spring, this time zone is called Alaska Standard Time (AKST). During AKST, clocks are set to UTC-9. This means if it's 9:00 AM UTC, it's 12:00 AM (midnight) in the Alaska Time Zone. This is the "standard" time for the area.

Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)

During the warmer months, from spring to fall, Alaska switches to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT). For AKDT, clocks are moved forward by one hour. This means it becomes UTC-8. The idea behind Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight, especially in the evenings.

Where is the Alaska Time Zone Used?

The Alaska Time Zone covers a few places around the world.

In the United States

• Most of Alaska uses this time zone. Alaska is a very large state, and its time zone helps keep things organized for its residents.

In France

• The Gambier Islands are a small group of islands that are part of French Polynesia. Even though they are far from Alaska, they also use the Alaska Time Zone (UTC-9).

See also

In Spanish: Tiempo de Alaska para niños