Here are the differences between solstice and equinox: what they are, how they work and what the implications are for our planet
Equinox and solstice they are astronomical events that mark important transitions in our Earth’s annual cycle. They are crucial to understanding the changing seasons and have a significant impact on life on the planet. But what is the difference between equinox and solstice? We’ll explain it to you right away.
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Equinox: the perfect balance
The equinoxes occur twice a year, in March and September. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin, “equal nights.” But what does it mean exactly? That during an equinox the length of day and night it is approximately the same throughout the world. This is because, at that moment, it is perpendicular to its orbit around the Sun, creating an even distribution of sunlight on the Earth’s surface. During the spring equinoxwhich occurs around March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun crosses the equator in a northerly direction. , the spring equinox occurs around September 23, when the Sun moves south across the equator. In both cases, the result is a perfect balance between day and night, symbolized by the term “equinox”.
Solstice: the maximum and minimum of sunlight
Solstices, however, do occur on June 21st and December 21st of each year. They mark the points where the tilt of the Earth’s axis is greatest relative to the orbit around the Sun. In other words, the hemisphere tilted toward the Sun experiences its longest day, while the opposite hemisphere experiences its shortest day . On the summer solstice, which occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted maximally toward the Sun, leading to a longer day and shorter night. At the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs, with the South Pole, having a shorter day and longer night.
The impact on ancient cultures
Equinox and solstice also have a certain . Many ancient cultures celebrated these events as key moments in the year. For example, the winter solstice is often associated with holidays such as Christmas, while the equinoxes can mark the new year in some traditions. In terms of seasons, the equinoxes are often regarded as the transition point between winter and spring, or between summer and autumn, while the solstices signal the start of summer or winter, depending of the hemisphere you are in.
And about the seasons
Let us remember that the cycle of the seasons is determined by the inclination of the earth’s axis. During winter, the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun experiences colder temperatures and shorter days. Spring begins when the axis aligns with the Sun, summer when the hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, causing longer days and warmer temperatures. Autumn comes with the new alignment, characterized by moderate temperatures and days.
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Cover image credit NASA
