ames,
6:00 PM Tuesday evening (and I am not sure how exact their numbers are, unless they mean halachic 6:00PM) is Wednesday.
As for saying brachas on other stuff, that is one of my points. When Haley’s comet came around (a far rarer event) were there gatherings like this? And while squeak may argue, it is for the most part a modern day innovation. It’s one line in the Gemarah and barely mentioned in the Rishonim. People today are lacking in spirituality and they need something to grab on to. L’Havdil, I read that even secular, C and R Jews will be having something tomorrow, the reason is that there is no sacrifice on their part to do a once in 28 years ceremony.