Yep! September 20 or 21 - one of two days each year with equal day and night in temperate latitudes. Or, more specifically, the mment IN that day when the sun crosses the equator. Or to confuse even more, here’s what the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary has to say:
Main Entry: equi·nox
Pronunciation: 'E-kw&-"näks, 'e-kw&-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French equinoxe, from Medieval Latin equinoxium, alteration of Latin aequinoctium, from aequi- equi- + noct-, nox night – more at NIGHT
Date: 14th century
1 : either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic
2 : either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere of equal length
That’s OK, Andrea. I’m not you either - a fact for which you’re no doubt immensely grateful.
Actually, any season, be it spring, summer, fall, or winter, can occur any time between the 19th and 23rd of the month in nwhich it happens… March, June, September, and December.
Don’t believe me? Look it up!!
I believe the days and nights are equal everywhere on the planet at the equinoxes. At the poles, the sun will be half below and half above the horizon 'round the clock on those days. Isn’t that correct?
I was trying to write in business terms (sixth grade lowest common denominator) and most folks wouls not consider it to be "night’ if ol’ Sol was still glaring across the rim of the horizon.
Happy Hallowe’en to all of you in the US!
Here in Dublin we live in fear of Hallowe’en because of all the anti-social trouble it brings & bonfires going out of control, & accidents with fireworks, etc. Hope the festivities are more enjoyable in the US!
By the way, did you know that the Irish for bonfire is “Tine chnámh” - literally “bone - fire” - perhaps referring to a funeral pyre?
Yep, be right there! I’ve changed my local address and I’ve had to make changes with my local e-mail ‘reader’ for all my addresses. Check your inbox today!
Hope everyone had a good time last night! There was an awesome ‘Haunted Hayride’ down here – went through the woods, out through an open field, back through the woods, the whole time they had a sound system on the back of the tractor pointed at you with gawd-awful sounds and sounds of torture it was the coolest spooky ride I’ve ever been on!! I for once actually had 3 seperate occasions where I actually got a really good jump!!
it was the coolest spooky ride I’ve ever been on!! I for once actually had 3 seperate occasions where I actually got a really good jump!!