Autumnal Equinox Expected: Fall North, Spring South
Autumnal Equinox Expected: Fall North, Spring South
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Key Points
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At the equator, the sun will be directly overhead around midday during the equinox, so objects there will cast virtually no shadow.
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The day–night boundary, known as the terminator, forms a nearly straight north–south line across Earth during both the autumnal and spring equinoxes.
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In the United Kingdom, the equilux—the point when daylight and darkness are closest to equal—typically occurs around Sept. 25, a few days after the equinox.
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The end of daylight saving time could be affected by the proposed Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent if Congress passes it and current President Donald Trump signs it into law.
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Oman’s Astronomical Affairs Department gives the event’s local timing as 4:05 a.m. MCT on Sept. 23, when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator moving southward.
The autumnal equinox arrives on September 22 at 8:04–8:05 p.m. EDT (or September 23 in some time zones like the UK and Oman), marking the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere River Bender. On this day, the sun crosses directly over Earth's equator, creating a rare moment when both hemispheres receive nearly equal sunlight NASA.
Why Day and Night Aren't Exactly Equal
Despite its name, the equinox does not deliver exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness River Bender. The sun has a visible disk, and Earth's atmosphere bends incoming sunlight, extending twilight. The closest balance—called the equilux—happens several days after the equinox. In the UK, the equilux typically occurs around September 25 Nation Cymru.
The Sun Directly Overhead at the Equator
At the equator, the sun will shine nearly straight down around midday during the equinox River Bender. Objects there will cast virtually no shadow—a dramatic effect visible nowhere else on Earth. This occurs because neither hemisphere tilts toward the sun on this date NASA.
The Terminator Line Forms a Perfect North-South Cut
The day-night boundary—called the terminator—forms an almost straight north-south line across Earth during both spring and autumn equinoxes NASA. At all other times of year, this boundary tilts at an angle. This geometric precision reflects how evenly the hemispheres split sunlight on these two special dates.
Daylight Saving Time Could Become Permanent
The equinox is separate from the end of daylight saving time, scheduled for November 1. However, the proposed Sunshine Protection Act could change this entirely. If Congress passes the bill and President Trump signs it, daylight saving time could become permanent nationwide, eliminating the twice-yearly clock adjustments.
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