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Both equinoxes are designated as national holidays in Japan as a day to honor ancestors. Planting and harvesting seasons are determined by the equinoxes. Equinoxes, for example, signifies the start of important days such as the new year. The autumnal equinox is near September 22nd.įor thousands of years, equinoxes have been a part of many cultures and rituals. The day and night are nearly similar in time. The Autumn Equinox occurs as the sun reaches the equator from the northern to the southern hemisphere, marking the beginning of the autumn season. The North Pole continues to lean back against the sun. The Spring Equinox happens as the sun reaches the equator from the southern to the northern hemisphere, marking the start of the spring season. The Spring Equinox is the first day of spring. The equinoxes in March and September are each assigned their own names.
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Types of EquinoxesĮquinoxes are classified into two groups. This is the first day of spring in the southern hemisphere. In several parts of the world, especially in the northern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox marks the start of autumn. This means that on these days, the day period is the same (12 hours) at all points on the earth's surface (except right at each pole, where it will be about to change from permanent light to dark, or vice versa). This only occurs twice a year, on the spring and autumn equinoxes. In other words, it is springtime in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Russia, India, and China on March Equinox, while it is autumn in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa.Įquinoxes are preferably referred to as March Equinox (Northern Equinox) and September Equinox (Southern Equinox). In the Northern Hemisphere, March Equinox is known as Vernal Equinox and Spring Equinox, while it is known as Autumnal Equinox and Fall Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. 12 hours.Įquinoxes occur every year on the 20th or 21st of March and the 22nd or 23rd of September, and all days have the same duration of day and night. The inclination of the Earth (with respect to the Sun) is 0° at Equinoxes, and the day and night are almost equal in length on Equinox day, i.e. An Equinox is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, when the Earth's axis is turned neither away from nor towards the Sun.
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