Welcome to the Fall Equinox! What Does It Mean?

For a brief moment on a Monday in September, day and night will get equal billing. At approximately 1:19 pm this afternoon, the autumnal equinox will take place, and sunlight will slowly diminish until the winter solstice on December 21st. So what exactly happens today?

What is an Equinox?

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that when the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle. For most of the year, the Earth's axis is tilted either away from or towards the sun. That means the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the Northern and Southern hemispheres. But during the equinox, the Earth's axis and orbit align, meaning an equal amount of sunlight.

The Gazette reports that the Northern Hemisphere's autumnal equinox can fall between September 21 and 24, depending on the year. The spring equinox occurs between March 19 and 21.

What is the Winter Solstice?

The solstice marks the time when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt away from the sun, according to the Gazette. The two hemispheres get different amounts of sunlight, and the days and nights are the most unequal. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

READ MORE: When Fall Colors Will Peak in Iowa

When Did the Celebration of the Equinox Start?

Equinoxes have been celebrated around the world for centuries. The Gazette reports that the fall equinox is often connected to harvest festivals in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, if you happen to live in Antarctica, New Zealand, or Australia, a partial lunar eclipse could be visible today.