123000Z

123000Z is a time notation used in aviation, meteorology, and related fields to denote a specific moment in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The trailing "Z" identifies Zulu time, the aviation standard designation for UTC.

Interpreting 123000Z depends on context. As a pure time, it corresponds to 12:30:00 UTC. However, when time stamps appear in weather reports or flight data, they are often accompanied by a date. For example, METAR reports use the format ddhhmmZ, so an entry like 121230Z would mean the 12th day of the month at 12:30 UTC. A standalone 123000Z would typically be understood as 12:30 UTC on a specified date elsewhere in the message or in accompanying documentation.

Common usages include weather observations, forecasts, and aviation flight plans, where precise UTC timing ensures consistency across time zones. The notation also appears in maritime communications, satellite data, and computer logs, where a uniform time reference is important for coordination and record-keeping.

Limitations: without a date, 123000Z is ambiguous. It may be misinterpreted if converted to local time without context. Many modern systems pair such times with explicit dates or use full ISO-like timestamps (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ) to remove ambiguity.