What Does Fall Equinox Mean?
- The fall equinox is commonly known as one of the two days during the year where day and night are equal lengths. The term literally means "equal night." It is actually the day when the sun crosses the equator, marking the change in seasons. The Fall or autumnal equinox falls on September 22 for the Northern Hemisphere.
- The fall equinox has been recognized by cultures for centuries and celebrated for its association with the harvest. In China and in England, among other places around the world, these harvest festivals are still celebrated. The fall equinox marks the first day of Libra, as the spring equinox marks the first day of Aries, in Greek astrology.
- The equinoxes are the only two days during the year when the sun rises due East and sets due West. Because of the tilt to the Earth's axis, the sun appears to rise and set above or below the Equator on all other days of the year.
- The modern calendar has been adapted so that the Equinoxes fall on the same day each September and March. Because the actual year is about 365.2422 days long, every four years we add an extra day to our calendars, otherwise the dates that we recognize as the beginning of the seasons would occur earlier every year.
- People will experience the fall equinox differently depending on where they live. At the equator, the sun will be straight above, casting no shadow at noon and the amount of sunlight will become shorter by mere seconds each day as fall proceeds. At the poles, the amount of daylight will increase or decrease by as much as 15 minutes a day, until those at the poles experience 24 hours of daylight or 24 hours of night.
