Spring equinox 2025 brings balance to day and night as a new season begins
Spring equinox brings balance as seasons change (Illustrative photo: https://noaa.gov/)
The vernal equinox arrives on Thursday, March 20, officially marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, reports AP News.
What happens during the equinox?
As Earth orbits the Sun, it does so at an angle, which causes seasonal changes. However, during the equinox, "the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight," explains AP News. This results in nearly equal day and night lengths worldwide.
The term "equinox" comes from Latin, meaning "equal night." While the exact date varies, the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox typically falls between March 19 and 21.
Across cultures, this astronomical event has been celebrated for centuries. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is based on the equinox, while at the ancient Mayan site Chichen Itza, people gather to witness sunlight forming a serpent-shaped shadow on El Castillo.
How does the equinox differ from the solstice?
Unlike the equinox, solstices mark the times when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt toward or away from the Sun. The summer solstice in June brings the longest day of the year to the Northern Hemisphere, while the winter solstice in December creates the shortest day and longest night. "These astronomical events define the shifting seasons," notes AP News.
While astronomical seasons are based on Earth’s orbit, meteorological seasons divide the year into three-month blocks for climate tracking. By this system, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on September 1, and winter on December 1.
As the spring equinox arrives, astrologers are also looking ahead. According to the Horoscope for March 20, the astrological forecast suggests that key decisions made today could impact future success.
