Fall Equinox
The science and significance of the autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox is a sure sign of fall.
In the language of science, an equinox is either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. For the rest of us, it's one of two times a year when the Sun crosses the equator, and the day and night are of approximately equal length.
At the autumnal equinox (Sept 22, 2008; 11:44:18 A.M. EDT), the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, from north to south; this marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north. This occurs about March 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
On the date of either equinox, the Sun is above the equator and night and day are of approximately equal length; the word equinox is often used to refer to either of these dates.
Related Links
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2009
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2008
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2007
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2006
Poetry for Fall
The Seasons
The Planets
The equinoxes are not fixed points on the celestial sphere but move westward along the ecliptic, passing through all the constellations of the zodiac in 26,000 years. This motion is called the precession of the equinoxes. The vernal equinox is a reference point in the equatorial coordinate system.
The science and significance of the autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox is a sure sign of fall.
In the language of science, an equinox is either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. For the rest of us, it's one of two times a year when the Sun crosses the equator, and the day and night are of approximately equal length.
At the autumnal equinox (Sept 22, 2008; 11:44:18 A.M. EDT), the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, from north to south; this marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north. This occurs about March 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
On the date of either equinox, the Sun is above the equator and night and day are of approximately equal length; the word equinox is often used to refer to either of these dates.
Related Links
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2009
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2008
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2007
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2006
Poetry for Fall
The Seasons
The Planets
The equinoxes are not fixed points on the celestial sphere but move westward along the ecliptic, passing through all the constellations of the zodiac in 26,000 years. This motion is called the precession of the equinoxes. The vernal equinox is a reference point in the equatorial coordinate system.
"Gold of a ripe oat straw, gold of a southwest moon,Canada thistle blue and flimmering larkspur blue,Tomatoes shining in the October sun with red hearts," —Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) "Cornhuskers," Falltime (1918)
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