Wed Mar 19 09:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Equinoxes 2025: Equal Day and Night (Almost!)
**Pasadena, CA** – NASA reports that the equinoxes, marking the astronomical shift between seasons, will occur on March 20th and September 22nd, 2025. These events, signifying the moment the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator, have been observed and celebrated by cultures for millennia.
While the term “equinox” (from the Latin “equal night”) suggests perfectly equal day and night, this isn’t entirely accurate. Atmospheric refraction and the sun’s size mean day length varies slightly by latitude, with true equal day and night occurring a few days before or after the equinox itself.
On March 20th at 09:01 UTC (2:01 AM PDT), the Northern Hemisphere will experience the vernal equinox (spring), marking the start of longer days and warmer weather. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere enters autumn. The September 22nd equinox at 19:19 UTC (11:19 AM PDT) reverses this, with the Northern Hemisphere beginning autumn and the Southern Hemisphere experiencing spring.
During equinoxes, the Sun shines equally on both hemispheres, a unique phenomenon resulting in both poles receiving sunlight simultaneously. These celestial events serve as a significant reminder of Earth’s movement around the Sun and the cyclical nature of our seasons.
First Piper 