8 curiosities about the autumnal equinox

Today, Wednesday September 22, the summer will give way to autumn, since its equinox will take place at 9:21 p.m. Today, the day and the night will be almost the same length, until the days get shorter and carry us towards the winter solstice. Here are some curiosities about the autumnal equinox.

8 curiosities about the autumnal equinox

Among myths and legends , autumn is finally presented so that to receive it as it deserves nothing like reviewing some curious facts not only of this season but also of its equinox like the one we will experience today.

1. The term equinox comes from the Latin «aequus», in Spanish «equal», and «nox», which is «night». This is because both in early spring and early fall, as already mentioned, the length of day and night is almost the same .
2. The same length of day and night, in fact, depends on the sunrise. The day, in fact, begins when the upper edge of our star reaches the horizon and ends when the Sun has completed its cycle.
3. The autumnal equinox usually falls on September 21, 22, or even 23 of each year, but it’s good to know that this is not always the case. In fact, in 1931 it was not until September 24. And this is because our planet takes 365.25 days to complete its orbit around the Sun. This means that, thanks to a forcing of our Gregorian calendar, it may happen that the equinox is delayed. As will happen on September 24, 2303.
4. Before the arrival of the autumn equinox, the full Harvest Moon occurs. This name comes from the fact that farmers can work into the night thanks to a longer light period. The one in 2021 happened on the night of this past Monday, September 20 to Tuesday, September 21.
5. Along with the leaf fall associated with this season, geomagnetic storms are also more frequent. According to NASA, the phenomenon reaches up to twice the annual average. And with them, the more frequent and intense the northern lights become.
6. The flora not only adapts its colors to the season and prepares for the colder temperatures. In fact, even the animals are subject to major changes due to the new season. Just think of the male Siberian hamster who, with the change of season, experiences a swelling of his testicles up to 17 times his real size. On the other hand, monarch butterflies migrate from America to warmer areas, such as Mexico and California. Traveling at speeds of between 12 and 25 miles per hour, they are the only insects that fly 2,500 miles to winter in milder weather.
7. In Greek mythology , autumn began when Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, the king of the underworld. In revenge, Persephone’s mother Demeter, who was the goddess of the harvest, killed every crop on Earth until her daughter was freed, marking spring.
8. It seems incredible but the spring and autumn equinoxes are the only times of the year when the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets in the west.