The word "equinox" refers to the two times of the year, in spring and autumn, when the length of the day and night are equal. This occurs because the Earth's tilt on its axis is neither towards nor away from the Sun during these times. The term "equinox" comes from the Latin words "aequus" meaning equal and "nox" meaning night. During the spring equinox, which usually falls on March 20th or 21st, the Sun is directly over the Earth's equator. This marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. At this time, day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on Earth.
equinox
Equinox descends from aequus, the Latin word for "equal" or "even," and nox, the Latin word for "night"—a fitting history for a word that describes days of the year when the daytime and nighttime are equal in length. In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox marks the first day of spring and occurs when the sun moves north across the equator. (Vernal comes from the Latin word ver, meaning "spring.") The autumnal equinox marks the first day of autumn in the northern hemisphere and occurs when the sun crosses the equator going south. In contrast, a solstice is either of the two moments in the year when the sun's apparent path is farthest north or south from the equator.
At this time, day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on Earth. Similarly, during the autumn equinox, which occurs around September 22nd or 23rd, the Sun again passes over the equator. This marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Examples of equinox in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The September equinox will be on September 22 at 12:43 P.M. UTC (8:43 A.M. EDT). — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2024 Its last equinox was in 2009, around which time Cassini detected the spokes. — Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024 Taking place annually in March and September, equinoxes mark the time when the day and night are approximately equal in length. — Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2023 The sisters even serve up special menus for the winter and summer solstices and the spring and fall equinoxes. — Devorah Lev-Tov, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Whereas a new moon rises and sets in tandem with the sun, the opposite is true for a full moon, which lights the night from around sunset to sunrise (this is especially true for the harvest moon that falls near the autumn equinox, a time when day and night are about equal in length). — Terri Robertson, Country Living, 31 July 2023 While the solstices signify the start of winter and summer, planetary scientists also use equinoxes to define the beginning of the autumn and spring seasons. — Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023 The fall equinox is upon us and there are a number of ways to celebrate. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2023 Then the daylight hours grown until the next equinox—the spring equinox—which will occur on March 20, 2024. — Bianca London, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equinox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
What Does 'Equinox' Mean?
Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere eagerly await the vernal equinox, or the day every spring when the day and night are finally of equal length. We count down as the long nights of winter wane and the long days of summer approach. Equinox comes from the Latin words aequi, which means "equal," and nox, which means "night."
celestial sphere, or a giant sphere that the earth sits within and on whose surface all the stars are found. You only see half of that sphere at once, and if you've ever been to a planetarium, this is a good approximation of what the celestial sphere looks like from earth: a concave half-dome with us at the center.
Astronomers in the ancient world knew that the position and movement of the stars and constellations on the celestial sphere changed throughout one solar year. Without knowing about the tilt of the earth, or its orbit in relation to the sun and other planets, they attempted to make sense of what they saw, and how they did that was to track the movement of the constellations in comparison with the sun and the moon. They needed a "zero point" from which they could measure the movement of the stars, and they chose the vernal equinox as that starting point.
These measurements were vital for accurate navigation and helping chart things like weather, and we see that in the Latin uses of aequinoctium. Julius Caesar notes in his firsthand account of the Gallic Wars that he took the equinox into consideration when planning sea forays into Gaul, and Cicero writes, "If Publius is waiting for the equinox, as you say Aledius tells you, then he must be going by sea. But he told me he was going by way of Sicily" (Cicero, Atticus 12.28.3; translation by E. O. Winstedt, 1912).
It goes without saying that stargazing is a lot easier to do at night than during the day, and given the importance of the stars in Roman life, it's not surprising that they chose to highlight the night in naming the equinox. English borrowed the name in the 14th century, when it was first used in an astronomical treatise written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
equinox
the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about March 21 ( vernal equinox, or spring equinox ) and September 22 ( autumnal equinox ).
either of the equinoctial points.Once again, day and night are nearly the same duration across the globe. The equinoxes hold cultural and spiritual significance in many societies. They are often associated with the changing of seasons, the renewal of life, and the balance between light and dark. Many religious celebrations, festivals, and rituals take place during these times, symbolizing rebirth, fertility, and harmony. In astronomy, the equinoxes mark important moments for astronomers and scientists. They help determine the length of a year and are used to define the seasons. Additionally, the equinoxes are crucial for understanding the Earth's orbit and the complex interactions between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Overall, the equinox is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs twice a year, bringing a sense of balance and transition to our world. It is a time when day and night are equal, and nature begins to shift as we move from one season to the next..
Reviews for "Setting Intentions for the Spell Equinox: Creating a Vision for the Season Ahead"
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