- The vernal equinox arrives Friday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere and the fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
- During an equinox, the Earth's tilt is neutral, meaning both hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths globally.
- The word “equinox” originates from Latin terms meaning “equal night,” reflecting the balanced duration of daylight and darkness.
- Solstices represent the times when the Earth's tilt is most pronounced towards or away from the sun, leading to the year's longest or shortest days and nights.
- Astronomical seasons are defined by the Earth's orbital position, whereas meteorological seasons are based on three-month periods aligned with annual temperature patterns.
IN FULL
The spring equinox is nearly here – but what does that mean?
