March Equinox!

Today is the March equinox! 

Right now, you may be asking yourself, "Spring equinox? So? Why should I care?" Well, the spring equinox has often been traditionally considered the first day of spring. It's also considered the start of the new year in the Persian (Iranian) and Indian calendars, so happy new year to you all there!

Where did the term "equinox" come from, you may ask? Well, the word "equinox" is descended from Latin words meaning "equal nights". That's because for most latitudes, as shown in the diagram, the duration of the day and the night is about equal. This is because of the Earth's rotation axis becoming perpendicular to the Sun's light. It's not tilting towards or away from the sun at all. The equinoxes are the only time the sun appears to rise in the East and set in the West. 

As it has been considered the first day of spring, the March equinox has been referred to as the spring equinox or the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the March equinox has been referred to as the autumnal/fall equinox because for those people down there, this equinox is the start of autumn. This equinox will lead the Earth's rotational axis tilting towards the sun, leading to warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere, and colder weather in the Southern one.

If you want to read some more interesting facts about the spring equinox, you can do so here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!