Equinox 2019: 12 facts on the first day of autumn

Learn when the autumn equinox occurs and what to expect when we bid farewell in the summer.

Good hello, fall! Even if it happens year after year, the arrival of autumn is always a little surprising. Almost like a switch, one day in the late summer, you feel it – a slight creak in the air. And before you know it, it's the pumpkin, the spice, everything everywhere. We are suddenly wrapped in sweaters and boots and bombarded with shades of orange, often even before the thermometer justifies it. After going through a hot and long August, it is exciting.

We can thank the autumn equinox for this sultry summer shift to a comfortable fall. And while most of us know when the first day of autumn is on the calendar, the equinox is more than just what we think. Consider the following.

1. When is the equinox of 2019?

This year, The autumn equinox arrives precisely at 07:50 UTC (15:50 EDT) on Monday, 23 September. Unlike events such as New Year at midnight following the clock around time zones, equinoxes occur everywhere at the same time.

2. It's autumn, it's spring!

There are two equinoxes each year, vernal and autumn, marking the beginning of spring and autumn. They are opposed to the northern and southern hemispheres – so for those of you who live in the south, happy spring!

3. Everything revolves around the celestial equator

The autumn equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, an imaginary line in the sky that corresponds to the Earth's equator. (The Old Farmer Almanac describes it as a plan of the terrestrial equator projected onto the sphere.) Every year this happens on September 22, 23, or 24 in the northern hemisphere.

4. Leap year plays a role

Because the Earth puts about 365.25 days in orbit around the Sun – and why we have a leap year every 4 years – the exact time of the equinoxes varies from one year to the next, usually occurring about six hours later, successive years. In leap years, the date goes back a whole day.

5. This gives us longer nights

From this moment, the nights are longer than the days and the days continue to shorten until December, when the light will begin to return slowly to the long days of summer. The winter solstice is technically the shortest day of the year, while the summer solstice of June enjoys the greatest brightness.

6. The meaning of "equinox"

"Equinox" comes from the Latin words "equi" which means "equal" and "nox" which means "night". This implies that there will be an equal amount of daylight and darkness, although this is not precisely the case.

7. The equinox is not exactly equal

This year, the sun will rise at 6:44 pm EDT at the equinox and set at 6:51 pm, giving us about 7 minutes a day per night. Although the sun is perfectly above the equator, we mark sunrises and sunsets at the first and last minute, the tip of the disc appears. In addition, because of the atmospheric refraction, the light is curved, giving the impression that the sun is rising or going to bed earlier.

8. What is the Equilux?

Despite the name of the equinox, day and night are only equal when sunrise and sunset occur 12 hours apart, depending on the latitude of the place. the closer we get to the equator, the closer we get to the equinox. This day is known as equilux – from Latin "equi" to "equal" and "lux" to "light".

9. The signs of the sun are also playing

For astrologers, the morning of the autumnal equinox corresponds to the moment when the sun leaves the Virgin and enters Libra; the scales, as appropriate! According to astrologers, the moment is conducive to balance and harmony.

10. He determines the harvest moon

As for the other celestial orb that we obsess, the full moon closest to the autumn equinox is called the Moon Harvest for the brightness that allows the peasants to work late. It is also called the full moon of corn (see: The full moon names and their meaning). The harvest moon is usually associated with the September full moon, although if it falls closer to the date, it takes the title. This year, Harvest Moon took place on Friday, September 13th.

11. The north will be visible

With more nights at night, there are simply more hours to watch; if you are near the Arctic Circle in summer, there is too much daylight. But the aurora is also stronger around the equinox because of the inclination of the planet at 23.5 ° and the magnetic field of the solar wind … a magic combination that

12. It's the perfect time to spot you

This year at the equinox, as every year, the sun will rise precisely to the east and will set in the west. Everywhere on Earth, except at the North and South Poles, the horizon is full and full west; By watching the sun moving along this trail on September 23, no matter where you are, you can see where it is. Pick a landmark, write down mentally and enjoy the fact that, if so much is changing in this world, the sun is constant and that it will return to its perfect east-west days of the equinox.

Updated on September 21, 2019.