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Earth's Tilt Aligns: Spring Begins Friday!
16 Mar
Summary
- The vernal equinox marks spring's start in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Equinox means 'equal night,' with nearly equal day and night.
- Astronomical seasons differ from meteorological, based on orbit vs. weather.
The vernal equinox arrives on Friday, marking the technical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This astronomical event occurs when Earth's axial tilt is aligned neither towards nor away from the sun, resulting in near-equal periods of daylight and darkness worldwide.
This alignment means the sun rises almost exactly due east and sets almost exactly due west. The word "equinox" originates from Latin, signifying "equal night," reflecting the almost equal duration of day and night. The Northern Hemisphere's spring equinox falls between March 19 and 21 annually.
For 2026, the precise moment of the equinox is Friday, March 20, at 10:46 a.m. EST. Following this date, days will gradually lengthen in the Northern Hemisphere until the summer solstice in June. Astronomical seasons, dictated by Earth's orbit, contrast with meteorological seasons, which are based on annual temperature cycles and begin on March 1st for spring.
