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NEW YORK (AP) — Fall is within the air — formally.
The equinox arrives on Saturday, marking the beginning of the autumn season for the Northern Hemisphere.
However what does that truly imply? Right here’s what to learn about how we break up up the yr utilizing the Earth’s orbit.
What’s the equinox?
Because the Earth travels across the solar, it does so at an angle.
For many of the yr, the Earth’s axis is tilted both towards or away from the solar. Which means the solar’s heat and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.
In the course of the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up in order that each hemispheres get an equal quantity of daylight.
The phrase equinox comes from two Latin phrases which means equal and night time. That’s as a result of on the equinox, day and night time final nearly the identical period of time — although one might get just a few further minutes, relying on the place you might be on the planet.
The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, relying on the yr. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.
What’s the solstice?
The solstices mark the occasions through the yr when the Earth is seeing its strongest tilt towards or away from the solar. This implies the hemispheres are getting very totally different quantities of daylight — and days and nights are at their most unequal.
In the course of the Northern Hemisphere’s summer season solstice, the higher half of the earth is tilted in towards the solar, creating the longest day and shortest night time of the yr. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.
In the meantime, on the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the solar — resulting in the shortest day and longest night time of the yr. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.
Meteorological and astronomical seasons aren’t the identical
These are simply two alternative ways to carve up the yr.
Meteorological seasons are outlined by the climate. They break down the yr into three-month seasons primarily based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring begins on March 1, summer season on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.
Astronomical seasons depend upon how the Earth strikes across the solar.
Equinoxes, when the solar lands equally on each hemispheres, mark the beginning of spring and autumn. Solstices, when the Earth sees its strongest tilt towards or away from the solar, kick off summer season and winter.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
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