Spring is coming – at least formal.
The equinox arrived on Thursday, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the decline in the Southern Hemisphere. On the equator, it will be directly overhead at noon. The Spring Equinox is the only time to be illuminated by the sun at the same time.
These events have been marked and celebrated worldwide for centuries. For example, Iran's New Year Nowruz is based on the vernal equinox. On the Mayan website Chichen Itza in Mexico, people gathered to watch the sun during the vernal equinox to create a snake-like shadow pattern similar to a building called El Castillo.
But what happened in heaven? Here’s what we know about how we split a year using Earth’s orbit.
What is the vernal equinox?
When the earth travels around the sun, it proceeds at a certain angle.
For most of the year, the axis of the Earth is tilted or away from the Sun. This means that the warmth and light of the sun fall in the northern and southern halves of the earth.
During the vernal equinox, the Earth's axis and its orbital lines are upwards, so that both hemispheres have an equal amount of sunlight.
The word Equinox comes from two Latin words, meaning equality and night. That's because at the vernal equinox, day and night last almost the same time – although you may have a few extra minutes depending on where you are on Earth.
Spring (or spring) in the Northern Hemisphere can be between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall or fall can land between September 21 and 24.
What is the Winter Solstice?
Solving marks an era of the year when the Earth is most extreme inclined or away from the sun. This means that the amount of sunlight in the hemisphere is very different – the most unequal during the day and at night.
During the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the upper half of the earth tilts towards the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solution falls between June 20 and 22.
Meanwhile, during the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere is deviating from the sun – leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice is between December 20 and 23.
What is the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons?
These are just two different ways to carve a year.
Although astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by weather. They divide the year into three-month seasons based on the annual temperature cycle. Through this calendar, spring will begin on March 1, June 1, summer, September 1 and December 1.
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science has received support from the Science and Education Media Group at Howard Hughes Medical School. AP is responsible for all content.
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