In this issue:
THE VERNAL EQUINOX
For most of us, March 20th means the
beginning of Spring and that's simply good enough for us
Canadians living through our harsh northern winters as
we look forward to higher temperatures and the coming
summer months!
But more than just being a change
in seasons, March 20th is more significant for
astronomical reasons as it the day when the Sun will
cross directly over the Earth's equator - or the vernal
equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (in the Southern
Hemisphere this is the time for the autumnal equinox).
Literally translated, equinox
means "equal night" and because of the sun is positioned
directly over the equator at this time, both day and
night are about equal in length all over the world.
These astronomical moments owe their significance to
the tilt of the Earth's axis (23.4 degrees for those
that are counting). It is because
of this tilt that we receive the
Sun's rays most directly in the summer
and in the winter,
when we are tilted away from the Sun, the rays
are at a greater slant, bringing
lower temperatures. Without this tilt
there would be no variation in day lengths or
temperatures throughout the year, and we would have
no seasons.
Astronomy aside, the vernal
equinox has also been celebrated
for thousands of years
celebrating the beginning of spring.
Many celebrated (and some still do)
simply because the growing season for
their food supplies would soon
return. The date is also
significant for Christians as
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full
moon after the vernal equinox.
It is also probably no coincidence that the Egyptians
built the Sphinx so that it points directly toward the
rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.
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