In commemoration of Vernal Equinox, I have compiled a few fun facts, relating to the event.
Contrary to the popular belief of New Yorkers, Vernal Equinox is not the the high roller’s gym, down the block from NYSC. It is a semiannual even where the Earth’s axis is perfectly straight up and down, in relation to the Sun.
Equinox occurs directly between summer and winter solstice. The solstice is when the Earth’s axis is tilted at its maximum angle, relative to the sun. So, at Summer Solstice, for the northern hemisphere, the North Pole is at it’s closest orbital position, to the Sun. Winter Solstice (for the northern hemisphere), being when the North Pole is farthest from the Sun.
Borrowing from Wikipedia:
The name is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the Equinox, the night and day are approximately equally long. The term “Equinox” can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens.
So, why not take advantage of the natural forces at work, and spend the day getting balanced?
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One response to “Happy Vernal Equinox”
Guess who else pays attention to this phenomenon–Laura. She just gave me her kitchen window observation report of the sun’s place at the Oquirrh mountains and described its movement and her anticipation of the gradual shift and what that meant to our weather. Sometimes I wonder about her.