Members' Lecture: Spring Equinox

Join one of our Royal Observatory astronomers to learn about the spring equinox which will occur on 20 March. 

What is the spring equinox? 

The spring equinox is when astronomical spring is said to start. 

What happens during the spring equinox? 

Changes in the length of day and night begin and are caused by the tilt of the Earth. When the Earth orbits the Sun, at certain times of year the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun and the southern hemisphere is tilted away from it. For the other half of the year, the reverse happens.  

Equinoxes happen when neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the Sun and there are roughly equal hours of daylight and darkness. Solstices, on the other hand, happen when a specific hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the Sun, which results in long days or long nights. 

Couldn't make it for the webinar? Watch back the event online here:

Image Credit: Riverside of Funakawa in Spring by Takanobu Kurosaki, shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022