MSK to AST Converter
Convert time between Moscow Standard Time (MSK) and Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Moscow Standard Time (MSK)
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Time Difference
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is 0 hours ahead of Moscow Standard Time (MSK)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MSK | AST |
|---|---|
| 05:00 | 22:00 |
| 07:00 | 00:00 |
| 09:00 | 02:00 |
| 11:00 | 04:00 |
| 13:00 | 06:00 |
| 15:00 | 08:00 |
| 17:00 | 10:00 |
| 19:00 | 12:00 |
| 21:00 | 14:00 |
| 23:00 | 16:00 |
| 01:00 | 18:00 |
| 03:00 | 20:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About MSK to AST Time Conversion
Converting time between Moscow Standard Time (MSK) and Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is essential for coordinating between Russia and Atlantic Canada during winter months. MSK is UTC+3 (consistent year-round, no daylight saving time), while AST is UTC-4 (observed during winter, November to March). MSK is 7 hours ahead of AST.
This conversion is important for Russian companies coordinating with Atlantic Canadian offices in Halifax, Saint John, St. John's, and other major cities during winter months. When winter arrives and Atlantic Canada shifts from ADT to AST, the time offset reduces from 8 to 7 hours, improving scheduling coordination. Software development teams, financial firms, and enterprises bridging Russia and Atlantic Canada operations rely on accurate time conversions for managing projects and international collaboration during fall and winter months.
Common Use Cases for MSK to AST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling calls between Moscow offices and Halifax headquarters during winter months
- Coordinating software development teams across Russia and Atlantic Canada during fall and winter
- Managing business process outsourcing operations with Atlantic Canadian clients during standard time period
- Planning conference calls for product development and customer support teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Atlantic Canada during winter months
- Planning travel between Russia and Atlantic Canada destinations during winter
- Scheduling virtual meetings with Atlantic Canadian relatives or business partners
- Arranging online collaboration with Atlantic Canadian-based colleagues during standard time period
Time Zone Information
Moscow Standard Time (MSK)
- UTC Offset: UTC+3
- IANA Timezone: Europe/Moscow
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time (consistent year-round)
- Major Cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok
- Coverage: Moscow and most of western Russia (single timezone covering Moscow region)
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4
- IANA Timezone: America/Halifax
- Daylight Saving: Daylight saving time ends (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Halifax, Saint John, St. John's, Moncton, Sydney
- Coverage: Atlantic Canada including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador (winter months)
Quick Reference: MSK to AST
Remember: MSK is always 7 hours ahead of AST during winter. When AST transitions to ADT in March (second Sunday), the difference becomes 8 hours until November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MSK and AST?
Moscow Standard Time (MSK) is UTC+3, while Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is UTC-4. This means MSK is 7 hours ahead of AST. When it's 5:00 AM in Halifax (AST), it's 12:00 PM (noon) the same day in Moscow (MSK).
How does the MSK to AST offset differ from MSK to ADT?
ADT is 1 hour ahead of AST. Since MSK is 7 hours ahead of AST, it is 8 hours ahead of ADT. During winter months when AST is active, you get better scheduling overlap compared to the summer ADT period.
Does Russia observe daylight saving time like AST does?
No, Russia does not observe daylight saving time. Moscow Standard Time remains UTC+3 throughout the year. This means MSK is consistently 7 hours ahead of AST (November-March) and 8 hours ahead of ADT (March-November).
When does the time difference change from 7 to 8 hours?
The difference changes on the second Sunday in March when Atlantic Standard Time (AST) ends and Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) begins. From March to November, the difference is 8 hours. From November to March (when AST is active), the difference is 7 hours.
What are the best times to schedule calls between Russia and Atlantic Canada during winter?
Business hour overlap is good during winter months when AST is active. Morning in Moscow (8-10 AM MSK) overlaps with late evening the previous day in Atlantic Canada (1 AM-3 AM AST). Evening in Moscow (5-7 PM MSK) overlaps with early morning Atlantic Canada (10 AM-12 PM AST). These windows provide reasonable meeting times for winter coordination.
How does daylight saving time affect Russia-Atlantic Canada coordination?
Russia does not observe daylight saving time, so only the Atlantic Canadian region time changes. When ADT begins in March, the offset with Moscow increases by 1 hour (from 7 to 8 hours). When ADT ends in November, coordination improves with the 7-hour offset. Plan your scheduling accordingly during these transitions.
Pro Tips
- • The 7-hour offset during AST (winter) is more favorable for business coordination than the 8-hour summer offset. Schedule recurring meetings during winter months when possible.
- • Early morning Atlantic Canada time (8-10 AM AST) aligns well with Moscow afternoon (3-5 PM MSK), creating good overlap for both regions during winter standard time period.
- • Atlantic Canada transitions to ADT on the second Sunday in March, changing the offset from 7 to 8 hours. Note this transition for meeting schedule adjustments.
- • Winter is better for Russia-Atlantic Canada coordination than summer. The 7-hour offset versus 8-hour offset provides one more hour of potential meeting overlap.
- • Moscow evening (5-7 PM MSK / 10 AM-12 PM AST) provides excellent overlap for both regions during winter standard time - ideal for daily standup meetings.
- • Document all meeting times in both MSK and AST to prevent confusion during daylight saving transitions affecting only the Atlantic Canadian region.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features