The time zones around the globe are divided into different categories. As there is no common time zone of continents or even countries, the time zones have been given names like Pacific time zone, central time zone, etc.
These time zones that have been divided by names are the sources for converting time and knowing the exact ones at the same moment.
The Pacific Standard Time, as the name says, is for the countries around the Pacific Ocean, like western Canada, western Mexico, and western parts of the United States. The mountain time zone is for northern America.
It is used in Canada and North America. The mean solar time, which is, in simple words, the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.
Key Takeaways
- PST (Pacific Standard Time) is 1 hour behind MST (Mountain Standard Time).
- PST includes locations like California, Nevada, and Washington, while MST covers Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.
- Both PST and MST are affected by Daylight Saving Time, during which they become PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and MDT (Mountain Daylight Time).
PST vs MST
MST stands for Mountain Standard Time, which is used in the mountainous regions of the United States and Canada. It is seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. PST means Pacific Standard Time and is used in the western part of the US and Canada. MST is one hour ahead of PST.
The Pacific Standard Time is basically encompassing the western parts of three countries, and they are America, Canada, and Mexico. These countries get their accurate time zone just by subtracting eight hours from the universal coordinated time that is the UTC.
Pacific time zone is the other name for it and is called such in the united states and Canada, and that time which falls under this zone is known as Pacific Standard Time.
MST stands for Mountain Standard Time which is for Northern America and Northern Canada. It is quite simple and easy to get the mountain standard time as it just requires subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time, which is majorly called the UTC.
The mean solar time, which is, in simple words, the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | PST | MST |
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Pacific Standard Time. | Mountain Standard Time. |
| UTC | Eight hours before he UTC. | Seven hours before the UTC. |
| Countries | Western parts of three countries and are America, Canada, and Mexico. | Northern America and northern Canada. |
| Difference | PST calculates the standard time for western parts of these countries. | MST calculates the standard time for the northern parts of these countries. |
| Other names | Pacific time zone. | Mountain time, mountain daylight time. |
What is PST?
The Pacific Standard Time is basically encompassing the western parts of three countries, and they are America, Canada, and Mexico. These countries get their accurate time zone just by subtracting eight hours from the universal coordinated time that is the UTC.
In the United States and Canada regions, it is referred to as Pacific Time Zone, and the time which falls under this zone is known as the Pacific Standard Time.
Just like the United States and Canada, Mexica refer to it as the northwest time zone, and in their native language, it is Zona Noroeste while it has the same observation of daylight time as America and Canada.
The largest city that falls under this Pacific Standard Time is Los Angeles which also has the largest metropolitan area in the same time zone.
What is MST?
MST stands for Mountain Standard Time which is for Northern America and Northern Canada.
It is quite simple and easy to get the mountain standard time as it just requires subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time, which is majorly called the UTC.
The mean solar time, which is, in simple words, the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.
MST has quite a few other names too, and they are according to the zones- when observing the daylight time, it is mountain daylight time, and when observing the standard time, it is mountain standard time.
The mountains, which have some rocky textures that are the mountains that range from the area of British Columbia to New Mexico, are given this name.
Main Differences Between PST and MST
- The main difference between PST and MST is that PST calculates the standard time for western parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while MST calculates the standard time for the northern parts of the United States and Canada.
- PST stands for Pacific Standard Time, while MST stands for Mountain Standard Time.
- PST is eight hours before the UTC, while MST is Seven hours before the UTC. One can calculate Mountain Standard Time by just subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time that is UTC.
- PST includes Western parts of three countries, and are America, Canada, and Mexico, while MST includes Northern America and Northern Canada. The time of the clock in this time zone is specifically based on the mean solar time, which is, in simple words, the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun.
- Another name for PST is the Pacific time zone, while other names for MST are Mountain time, mountain daylight time.
- https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/byulr2010§ion=76
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781936331642-7/using-science-soundly-yucca-mountain-standard-robert-fri
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