Autumn Equinox arriving Soon: Here’s when the fall equinox will happen and what it means

At equinox, the sun is passing over Earth's equator, moving south. Earth's axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun. As a result, nearly equal daylight and darkness occur globally. However, the equinox does not bring exactly equal light. Atmospheric refraction makes the sun appear above the horizon. That effect extends daylight by several minutes. At the equator, the day lasts about 12 hours and 6 minutes. At 30 degrees latitude, it lasts 12 hours and 8 minutes. At 60 degrees latitude, daylight stretches to 12 hours and 16 minutes.

How Can People Witness the Equinox?

On September 22, the sun sets due west. This happens only during the September and March equinoxes. Observers can see this phenomenon at sunset if skies are clear. Ancient cultures paid close attention to equinox light changes. In Mexico, Chichén Itzá shows seven snake-like shadows at sunset. These shadows appear on the Pyramid of Kukulcán’s steps. In Cambodia, Angkor Wat’s equinox sunrise aligns with its causeway.

What Follows After the Equinox?

Autumn will continue until the winter solstice on December 21. The solstice is the shortest daylight time of the year. Daylight hours will gradually lengthen after December 21. The next equinox is on March 20, 2026, ushering in spring.

The autumn equinox this year provides an opportunity to experience nature's equilibrium. It reminds us how Earth's rotation creates the seasons.