equinox

Everyday

One of the two times each year when day and night are about the same length all over the Earth, in spring and in autumn. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the equinox teaches how the Earth's tilt makes the seasons; the spring (vernal) equinox and the autumn equinox; in the southern half of the world the seasons are the other way round. Phrases: «spring equinox», «autumn equinox», «at the equinox».

Examples

• At the equinox, day and night are each about 12 hours long. tree →
• There are two equinoxes every year. tree →
• After the spring equinox, the days get longer than the nights. tree →
• When it is the spring equinox in Canada, it is the autumn equinox in Australia. tree →
• Ancient people built stones that line up with the sun at the equinox. tree →
• We measured our shadows at the equinox. tree →

Note

Plural «equinoxes». Do not confuse with «solstice» (the longest or shortest day of the year). «Equi-» means equal and «-nox» means night. Myth: day and night are not exactly equal at the equinox, but very nearly.