Our Solar System________________________________________________________________13. Equinoxes
Figure 10.30 Equinoxes and solsticesEquinoxes 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.