What happens in space?

Our planet’s axis of rotation is tilted at 23.4 degrees. Because of this, one hemisphere receives more sunlight than the other for most of the year (creating seasons). However, twice a year—in March and September—the Earth is positioned so that its axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. At this exact moment, the Sun shines directly above the equator, and both hemispheres receive nearly equal amounts of sunlight.

Exact Equinox Dates in 2026

• March 20 (14:46 GMT/UTC): Vernal (Spring) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere; Autumn equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
• September 23 (00:06 GMT/UTC): Autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere; Vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.

Optical Illusions and Phenomena

1. Why is the day slightly longer than the night? Theoretically, day and night should be exactly 12 hours long. However, Earth's atmosphere refracts light like a prism. When you see the Sun setting, its actual physical position is already below the horizon. Atmospheric refraction results in about eight extra minutes of daylight at temperate latitudes.

2. The Sun rises exactly in the east. The equinox is the only time of the year when the Sun rises precisely due east and sets precisely due west, no matter where you are on Earth (except at the poles).

3. Best time for Auroras. The weeks around the equinoxes are the best times to observe the Northern and Southern Lights. During March and September, the Earth's magnetic field interacts more efficiently with the solar wind, leading to increased geomagnetic activity.

Fast Fact: The fastest sunsets of the year occur around the equinoxes. Because the Sun’s apparent path crosses the horizon at the steepest angle, it drops below the horizon much quicker than during the solstices.

Credit: ©Vito Technology, Inc.