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While meteorologist wish to call surrender at the source of September , galactic autumn start up later , on the autumnalequinox . This year , it fall down on Sunday , Sept. 22 at 8:44 a.m. EDT ( 12:44 UTC),according to the National Weather Service .
At this specific time , Earth ’s bloc is tilted side - on to the sunlight , meaning there ’s an almost equal amount of sunlight and darkness across the globe .
A satellite view of Earth on the solstices (left) and equinoxes (right).
This celestial geometry marks the changing of the season — from summer to fall in the Northern Hemisphere and from wintertime to spring in the Southern Hemisphere . The word " equinox " is Latin for " equal Nox , " one of two 24-hour interval per year when the duration of day and darkness are the same across the earth .
The evenfall equinoctial point is an crucial way to mark Earth ’s annual journey around the sun . The hours of dark will gradually increase north of the equator until the solstice on Dec. 21 , and vice versa south of the equator .
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A satellite view of Earth on the solstices (left) and equinoxes (right).
More hour of Nox also mean more hours for stargazing ; some ofthe year ’s good meteor showers are yet to come , and the next three full moons , include theHarvest Moon on Sept. 17 , will be supermoons — make them appear bad and brighter in the sky . If you do n’t have agood dyad of stargazing binocularsor anice backyard telescope , now ’s a great time to induct in one .
The equinoctial point and solstices leave from Earth ’s axis , which is tip by 23.5 grade , imply different parts of the major planet get more or less sunlight throughout the year .
— Why does n’t the autumnal equinoctial point dip on the same day each twelvemonth ?
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For those on the equator , the noon sunlight will smooth right away overhead during the equinox . For everyone else , the equinoctial point is a tricky event to see .
One of the good ways to score its passing game this twelvemonth is to determine the sunrise and sundown , which will take place due eastern United States and west , respectively . That occur only on the equinoxes , when the sun hybridise the celestial equator — the imaginary course between the Northern and southerly hemisphere skies — no matter where you are on the satellite .
