Beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon. -Oscar WildeYesterday was the spring equinox for the Northern Hemisphere, and my city was lucky enough to have a glorious day, clear skies, warm weather, and I spent most of the day outside. I had the type of day that Dan Tyminski pines for in this song, Some Early Morning.
But yesterday -- the equinox -- was special for another reason that you don't often hear about. You see, the Earth rotates on its axis, tilted at a fairly severe 23.5 degrees.
During the months April through August, the northern hemisphere gets long days and lots of sunlight, while the South Pole gets nothing but freezing darkness. On the other hand, from October through February, the southern hemisphere gets the long days, while the North Pole never sees the Sun.
But our equinoxes -- and we only get two per year -- are very, very special. The Sun illuminates all parts of the Earth equally on these days.
These are the only days of the year where everywhere on Earth has a chance at Sunlight. Moreover, on the equinoxes, everybody gets twelve hours of Sun (well, they would if the skies were clear) and twelve hours of night. Everyone. North Pole, South Pole, Equator, and everywhere in between. Starting today and all the days after for the next six months, someone at the South Pole will never see the Sun. Just like for the prior six months, Santa Claus (and everyone else at the North Pole) never saw the Sun.
The spring equinox was not only our switch, it was one of two days a year where everyone got the same amount of daylight. That's even where the word equinox comes from: equi = equal + nox = night. So I hope you enjoyed it, and to those of you in the northern hemisphere with me, we've got six months where things should only get better!
Comments
Congrats! You've been Mabussed.
Just listened to the 365 Days of Astronomy for the 20th going over the same deal.
Posted by: Sili | March 21, 2010 2:23 PM
And yesterday was also our new year because of the exact same reason!
Posted by: Lotharloo | March 21, 2010 2:23 PM
Surely you mean 3 months where things should only get better? After the summer solstice the days get shorter and that, to me, is definitely things getting worse. It's after the winter solstice that things get better for 6 months.
Posted by: Julian Smith | March 21, 2010 3:39 PM
The poles get 24 hours with the sun on the horizon.
Posted by: Alistair Wall | March 21, 2010 10:21 PM
It is the intelligence behind all the rules of the nature which attract my attention and invite me to think about.
Posted by: mansour daftarian | March 26, 2010 2:24 AM
This means at certain times of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun, while 6 months later when the Earth is on the other side of the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun.
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Beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon.
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This means at certain times of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun, while 6 months later when the Earth is on the other side of the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun.
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Starting today and all the days after for the next six months, someone at the South Pole will never see the Sun.
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Beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon.
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This means at certain times of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun
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I love science. So many young people don't even know what an Equinox is. Thanks for the post.
Posted by: Georgette Pauls | October 10, 2010 3:51 PM
Starting today and all the days after for the next six months, someone at the South Pole will never see the Sun.
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Don't think I could handle such extreme time changes like that Jason. Can barely handle daylight savings in the winter with the sun setting sooo early.
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This means at certain times of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun, while 6 months later when the Earth is on the other side of the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun. Annuities
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This means at certain times of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun, while 6 months later when the Earth is on the other side of the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is more directly facing the Sun.
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