Today’s the first day of spring, otherwise known as the spring equinox. But what is an equinox, exactly? The answer lies in the tilt of the Earth’s axis. When it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere, those of us above the equator are tilted away from the sun, giving us shorter days and longer nights. In summer, we’re tilted toward the sun, so we can enjoy longer days and shorter nights. But the equinox is right in between. It"s the moment during Earth"s annual revolution around the sun when its axis is neither tilting away nor tilting toward the sun, giving everyone on the planet an equal split of day and night. This phenomenon happens twice a year—in March and again in September. For folks in the Northern Hemisphere, today signals a shift toward the long days of summer. But in the Southern Hemisphere, everything"s flipped. It"s the autumnal equinox today—and, yes, winter is coming.
Hello, spring!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower
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Native American Heritage Month
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Frost on autumn leaves
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The village of Castelluccio above the Piano Grande, Umbria, Italy
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Antarctica Day
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Islands of the Salish Sea
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Glenfinnan Viaduct
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Arches National Park, Utah
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Shark Fin Cove, California
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The scene of a literary crime
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Point Reyes National Seashore
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World Philosophy Day
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A place called ‘Peace’ in India
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Hues of Hokkaido
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The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland
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200th anniversary of Brazilian independence
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White Desert National Park, Egypt
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Illuminating Annecy
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Explorer of the sea
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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Nazar amulets, Goreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey
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Flag Day
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Frozen beauty
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Ringing in the new year at Teotihuacan
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Fog above the forest
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Cheers! It’s National Wine Day
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Happy Independence Day!
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Squirrel Appreciation Day
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World Octopus Day
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Remembering the Velvet Revolution