


A spring equinox is the moment in time and space when the sun is positioned directly above the Earth’s equator, which happens just twice a year on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. In March (usually the 20th or 21st), the sun crosses the equator from south to north, bringing warmth and light back to the Northern Hemisphere, and plunging the Southern Hemisphere into its fall and winter darkness. In September (around the 22nd or 23rd), the sun crosses back from south to north, heralding the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of spring in the Southern one.
The word “equinox” comes from the Latin for “equal” and “night,” because as the sun crosses the equator (Earth’s midline point) the hours of daylight and nighttime are very nearly equal. The equinoxes are the only time when the sun rises directly due East and sets directly due West for everyone on Earth.


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