Our Solar System
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13. Equinoxes

Figure 10.30 Equinoxes and solstices
Equinoxes
are another significant day during Earth's journey around the sun.

• On these days, the planet's axis is pointed parallel to the sun, rather than towards or away from it.

Day and night during the equinoxes are supposed to be close to equal.

• The spring, or vernal, equinox for the northern hemisphere takes place around March 20, the same day as the south's autumnal equinox.

• The vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs around September 20, when people in the north celebrate the autumnal equinox.

• The vernal equinox marks the first day of astronomical spring for a hemisphere, while the autumnal equinox ushers in the first day of fall.

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