Spring equinox is approaching, signaling the start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This is reported by Jamie Carter.
This year, the spring equinox will occur on March 20 at 10:46 AM Eastern Time (14:46 UTC), as indicated on the Time and Date website. This phenomenon happens simultaneously across the planet, as the equinox is a global event related to the tilt of the Earth's axis in relation to the Sun.
What causes the change of seasons?
The change of seasons on Earth occurs due to the tilt of its axis, which is approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. This results in different regions receiving varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. On equinox days, neither hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, allowing sunlight to shine almost directly over the equator and providing an equal amount of daylight and darkness.
Equinoxes occur twice a year, with day and night lasting about 12 hours in both hemispheres. 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 occurs on June 21.
Equinoxes are significant events in the solar calendar, as on these days the sun rises and sets almost exactly in the east and west in most parts of the planet, except at the poles.
Carved in stone and stars
Various cultures have celebrated equinoxes for centuries. For example, in Chichen Itza, Mexico, the light of the sunrise on the day of the equinox creates the illusion of a serpent descending the pyramid of Kukulkan, which is considered the beginning of the planting season.
There are other temples oriented towards the sunrise on the day of the spring equinox, such as the Great Sphinx in Giza and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Additionally, the March equinox is associated with the holiday Nowruz (Persian New Year), which is believed to have existed for 3000 years.
If you can't see the sunrise on the day of the equinox at a famous location, try to observe it just after sunset on March 20. At this time, the crescent moon, illuminated at 5%, will be visible just above Venus in the west-southwest.
Signs of spring can also be seen in the starry sky: the constellation Ursa Major will be high in the northeast, attracting the attention of astronomers in the mid-northern latitudes. (Its position can be remembered using the mnemonic: "spring rises, autumn descends"). At the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere, three bright stars of spring will be visible to observers: Arcturus (in the constellation Boötes), Spica (in Virgo), and Denebola (in Leo), forming the so-called Spring Triangle.
The publication "Spring Equinox 2026: When will the first day of spring arrive?" was first presented by K-News.
