Spring will be official, regardless of the weather, this Sunday, March 20, 11:21 pm. That’s the Vernal equinox, the moment the sun crosses the line of the celestial equator. It means the sun will rise due east and set due west, and it makes the day and night equal. On paper.
In reality the earth’s atmosphere bends the sun’s rays so we get the light earlier than sunrise and after sunset. Because of this effect, called the equilux, the days and nights are actually equal in length a few days before the Spring equinox and a few days after the Autumn one. That happens for us here in North Carolina today. Today, March 17, light once again catches up with the dark.
What use of the light do you make today?
Here’s a good site to bookmark to help you locate your bearings in all times and astronomical phases: http://www.timeanddate.com/
