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It’s been a long winter, and I can feel how close spring is. Here in California, flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and orange poppies are beginning to appear Daylight saving time has begun. The vernal equinox is just around the corner, marking the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Although the equinoxes may not get the same attention as the solstices, they are a great way to observe the changing seasons. Let’s learn about the vernal equinox, what it is and why it happens.
What is the vernal equinox?
You’ve no doubt noticed the daylight getting longer as winter approaches, especially with the time change last weekend. The spring equinox marks the turning point in longer days.
The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words meaning equal and night. Daylight and nightlight are approximately equal during the equinox. We witness two events every year – the vernal equinox in spring and autumnal equinox In the fall. The word “vernal” goes back to the Latin language and refers to spring.
This National Weather Service chart shows the Earth’s tilt, how our planet orbits the sun, and when the equinox and solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Earth rotates on an axis (think of it as a line running from pole to pole) with an inclination of 23.5 degrees. Some parts of the planet get more direct sunlight than others. This is how we get our seasons, and how it can be summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The vernal equinox occurs when the Northern Hemisphere moves from pointing away from the sun (during winter) to pointing toward the sun (during summer),” he says. Emily Riceassociate professor of astrophysics at the Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York. “The tilt lines up with the Earth’s orbit for only a moment.” That’s when we get approximately equal amounts of daylight and nighttime.
When does the vernal equinox occur?
the spring Moderation has a specific timeat 10:46 a.m. ET/7:46 a.m. PT, Friday, March 20.
How do equinoxes differ from solstices?
The solstices are the extremes of days and nights. The summer solstice is the longest day, and the winter solstice is the shortest. In 2026, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice will occur on June 21, and the winter solstice on December 21.
Solstices get more love than equinoxes.
“Extremes are easier to identify and visualize than inflection points, and they are more subtle changes, so inversions get all the attention,” says Rice. They are all linked to the tilts of the Earth and the Sun, so think of the solstices and equinoxes as brothers each with their own seasonal association.
What does the equinox look like from space?
It can be difficult to visualize the Earth’s tilt and what happens during an equinox from below on Earth, so NASA has put together a video showing the Earth as seen by a satellite.
It tracks our planet through its seasons. See how night and daylight change over time.
How to celebrate the spring equinox
You may have heard that the only day you can balance a raw egg on your end is the equinox. This myth may be accompanied by some obscure discussion points about the gravity and straightness of the Earth and the Sun.
I balanced this egg on its end on a day other than the equinox.
One of Rice’s annual duties on the equinox is to debunk the myth of egg balance.
“Astronomers often tell people online that they can only balance an egg on its end on the equinox,” she said. You can go ahead and try it, but make sure you also test it on a day other than the equinox. I made it on February 27th, if you were wondering.
Moderation is a subtle phenomenon. There are no flashy celestial events to celebrate this day. Don’t let that deter you. The vernal equinox is what you make of it.
“Given that the Earth’s orbit has no beginning or end, the year could start at any time, and the equinox is more important astronomically than January 1,” Rice says.
You can come up with your own way to celebrate this occasion. Tell your friends and coworkers that it’s the beginning of astrological spring. Plant some seeds. Cleaning your house. Spend some time outside. Make plans for spring break. And take a moment to toast the sun, the Earth’s tilt, and our place in space that brings us the vernal equinox.