Equinox means the exact moment that marks the beginning of spring or autumn, in which the sun shines with greater intensity on regions that are located near the equator.
The term originates from the junction of the Latin terms aequus (equal) and nox (night). When the equinox occurs, day and night are of equal length (exactly 12 hours).
The equinox occurs during the months of March and September, when the season changes.
At the time of the equinox, sunlight falls equally on the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The spring and autumn equinox days can vary from year to year, because the solar (tropical) year has 365 days and a few more hours (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds). Thanks to the phenomenon of precession of the equinoxes, the equinoxes do not have a fixed position and move a little every year.
Therefore, the Autumn Equinox (or Libra Point) takes place in the hemisphere that transitions from Summer to Autumn and the Spring Equinox (or Vernal Point) happens in the hemisphere that passes from Winter to the Spring.
Spring Equinox
The Spring Equinox, also known as the Vernal Point, is the moment when the sun crosses the equator from south to north.
In the Southern Hemisphere, where Brazil is located, the Spring Equinox occurs on September 22nd or 23rd. On the other hand, in the Northern Hemisphere (Portugal, for example), the opposite situation occurs and the Spring Equinox occurs on the 20th or 21st of March.
Learn more about the meaning of Spring Equinox.
Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox, or Libra Point, is the exact moment that marks the beginning of Autumn, when the sun crosses the North Equator towards the South.
In Brazil, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the Autumn Equinox occurs on the 20th or 21st of March.
In countries located north of the equator (Northern Hemisphere) the autumnal equinox takes place on the 22nd or 23rd of September.
Learn more about Autumn Equinox.
Solstice
The solstice, like the equinox, is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the beginning of seasons, in this case summer and winter.
O Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere it happens during the month of December and in the Northern Hemisphere it happens in the month of June.
already the Winter Solstice takes place in June in the Southern Hemisphere and takes place in December in the Northern Hemisphere.
See also the meanings of Solstice, Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice.
