Spring 2023 is Officially Here — But What Exactly is The Vernal Equinox?
While we usually mark the arrival of spring on March 21, the vernal or "spring" equinox this year falls on March 20, 2023.
The Earth is neither tilted towards or away from the sun on either the Autumnal or Vernal Equinoxes.
As a result, we see direct sunshine over the Equator on these days, giving us around 12 hours of daytime followed by 12 hours of nighttime.
The Earth spins once every 24 hours on its axis and once every 365 days around the sun.
We refer to a solstice when either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. Equinoxes are the midpoints between the solstices.
For instance, we refer to the summer solstice as the time when the Northern Hemisphere is inclined towards the sun.
In the North, it is the first day of summer, whereas in the South, it is the first day of winter.
The Autumnal and Vernal Equinoxes mark the midpoints between the Summer and Winter Solstices.
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