Spring begins this Saturday, September 23, 2023

Spring begins this Saturday, September 23, 2023


The spring equinox marks the start of a new season, bringing milder temperatures to the planet’s southern hemisphere

A spring 2023 starts today, Saturday 23 September, at exactly 3.50 am. The new season brings milder temperatures, which will gradually increase as summer approaches.



We say spring begins around this time because that’s when the vernal equinox occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. In the north the autumnal equinox occurs.

What day does spring start?

Both spring and others seasons They happen because the Earth orbits the Sun at an inclination of 23.5ยบ. As our planet moves around the star, the amount of light each region receives changes slightly each day.




The Earth has four seasons due to its tilt (Image: Reproduction/NASA)

These variations are responsible for the solstices and equinoxes, but for now let’s focus on the latter, which mark the beginning of spring in our hemisphere.

Because the equinoxes and solstices do not always occur on the same days, the start of the seasons varies slightly each year: spring, for example, may begin on September 22 in some years and on the 23rd in others.

What is the equinox

The word equinox comes from Latin and means night equal to day. This equality is the result of the Earth’s slight tilt in its path around the Sun, meaning that different parts of the planet receive more or less light throughout the year.



During the equinoxes, Earth's two hemispheres receive nearly equal amounts of light (Image: Reproduction/NASA/GSFC/Genna Duberstein)

But, after all, what do changes in the incidence of light have to do with the equinox? Well, the phenomenon occurs twice a year, that is, when the Sun passes directly over the equator and, therefore, the two hemispheres of the Earth receive almost the same amount of light.

Let’s say that at the equinox the hemispheres are equally illuminated because none of the poles is closer or farther from our star, so day and night last 12 hours. Another interesting aspect of the equinoxes is that, on these days, the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

What is the difference between equinox and solstice

You may have already noticed that the solstice and equinox are related to the Earth’s tilt, but it’s worth remembering that they are very different phenomena.

While the equinox marks the moment when the two hemispheres of the Earth receive the same amount of light, the equinox marks the moment when the two hemispheres of the Earth receive the same amount of light solstice It happens when one of the poles is more inclined to the Sun, and the other is further away.

Watch the video below, which shows the solstices and equinoxes observed from space:

 

Just like the equinoxes, the solstices also occur twice a year. During the summer solstice, the hemisphere tilted toward the Sun receives more light and has longer days. In winter, the hemisphere farthest from our star receives less sunlight and the nights become longer.

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Source: Terra

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