Spring equinox is approaching, marking the beginning of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This is reported by Jamie Carter.
In 2023, the spring equinox will occur on March 20 at 10:46 AM Eastern Time (14:46 UTC), according to information from Time and Date. Equinoxes, which are global phenomena, occur simultaneously around the world due to the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun.
How Are the Seasons Formed?
Seasons on the planet change due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, which is on average 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. This tilt causes different regions of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. On equinox days, both hemispheres are in a neutral position, allowing the Sun to shine almost directly over the equator, creating an equal number of daylight and nighttime hours.
Equinoxes occur twice a year, and during this period, the length of day and night is approximately equal—about 12 hours in each hemisphere. The word "equinox" comes from the Latin words "aequus" (equal) and "nox" (night). After the spring equinox, days in the Northern Hemisphere become longer, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they become shorter until the solstice on June 21.
Equinoxes serve as important points on the solar calendar, as on these days, the Sun rises and sets almost directly in the east in most parts of the Earth (except at the poles), as it does on the day of the autumn equinox.
Carved in Stone and Stars
Throughout history, various cultures have celebrated the equinoxes. For example, in Chichen Itza, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, the light of the sunrise on the day of the equinox creates the effect of a serpent descending the pyramid of Kukulkan. This event is considered the beginning of the planting season.
It is believed that many other temples are also oriented towards the sunrise on the day of the spring equinox, including the Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Also associated with the spring equinox celebrations is Nowruz (Persian New Year), which is estimated to be over 3000 years old.
If you cannot see the sunrise on the day of the equinox in a famous location, you can try to do so just after sunset on March 20, when the crescent moon, illuminated only 5%, will be slightly above Venus in the west-southwest.
Among the stars, there will also be signs of spring: the Big Dipper will appear high in the northeast, which will interest sky watchers in the mid-northern latitudes. (Its position can be remembered with the phrase "spring rises, autumn descends"). At the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere, three bright spring stars will be visible to observers: Arcturus (in the constellation Boötes), Spica (in Virgo), and Denebola (in Leo), which together form an asterism known as the Spring Triangle.
The article "Spring Equinox 2026: When Will the First Day of Spring Be?" was first published on the K-News website.
