The equinox, that gives way to a new station, occurs every six months and announces the beginning of spring and autumn. Its effect occurs when the sun is located on the Earth’s Ecuador, which causes a balance between day and night. The date and schedule of the beginning can vary due to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, whose synchronization with the star generates 12 hours of light and 12 of darkness.
This phenomenon is divided into spring or vernal equinox, which occurs in March, and autumn equinox, which occurs in September. When the sun is positioned over Ecuador, the line that divides the areas of the day and the night passes through the north and southern poles of the planet.
Currently, the planet prepares to finish the autumn equinox, started on September 22, 2024, and start spring. This will cause the arrival of the night to be delayed.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Earth, since it also occurs on other planets of the Solar System.
When does the spring equinox begin?
By Its etymological origin in Latin æquinociumwhich means “equal night”this phenomenon symbolizes the equitable distribution of light on the planet according to its position. According to National Geographic, the spring equinox marks the beginning of that station in the northern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere, the beginning of autumn.
According to Earthsky, the spring equinox, also known as vernal, It will occur on March 20 at 03.01 hours (Guatemala time), equivalent to 09.02 hours (coordinated universal time, UTC). At that time, the sun’s rays will be located on the plane of Ecuador, marking the first day of spring, conducive to the flowering and renewal of trees.
Why does this phenomenon occur?
This change happens because the earth revolves around the sun with an inclination of 23.5 degrees. This implies that the planet is not completely vertical, but slightly inclined, which is why certain regions receive more heat at different times of the year.
Twice a year, the sun is located just above Ecuador, an imaginary line that divides the planet into northern and southern hemisphere. When that happens, the day and night last almost the same world; This event is called equinox.
Although it seems that light and shadow are distributed equally, the Earth’s atmosphere slightly diverts sunlight, so a part of the planet receives a little more lighting, even during the equinox.
According to NASA, with the March equinox, in the countries of the northern hemisphere the sunrises are earlier, the latest sunsets and the winds become soft. In contrast, in the southern hemisphere, the sun appears later, hides earlier and the winds become cold.
The second 2025 equinox will occur on September 22, marking the beginning of autumn.
What does equinoxes mean?
The equinox has special meanings in different cultures. For ancient peoples, such as the Maya, Egyptians and Celts, this moment of the year was important because they considered that it represented renewal, balance and fertility. They celebrated it with rituals and parties as a symbol of the rebirth of life.
According to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the ancient Maya studied precisely the equinoxes, integrating them into their calendars and architectural constructions. An emblematic example is Kukulkán’s pyramid, in Chichen Itzá, where during the equinox the light and shadow create the visual effect of a snake descending through the steps.