So, in the Northern Hemisphere, you have the following: The vernal equinox (about March 21) marks the beginning of spring by making day and night equal in length. Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): the longest day of the year, signaling the beginning of summer. Winter solstice (December 21 or 22): the year's shortest day, signaling the beginning of winter. The autumnal equinox (about September 23) marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
These are astronomical events that happen around the time of the year when we might expect them to occur. If we look at the solar calendar, we will see that these events always come about six months after the previous equinox/solstice. This is because earth takes 6 months to go around the sun, so these events will always take place about six months apart.
People have been observing astronomy for many years now, and researchers have found a relationship between the positions of the planets and stars and agricultural production worldwide. They have also found connections between the movements of the Sun and Moon and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. These discoveries have led some people to believe that there is a connection between astronomy and the economy, which can be seen in things like astrology.
Astronomers used to think that the Earth was the only planet that had life, but now they know this is not true. Many other worlds have been discovered through deep space exploration, including other planets with ecosystems like our own.
Autumnal equinox (about September 23): a day and night of equal duration that marks the beginning of fall. Spring equinox (about March 19): a day and night of equal duration that marks the beginning of spring.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs during certain times of the year, particularly in response to changes in light intensity. People with SAD feel depressed during certain months of the year, usually between autumn and spring. The cause of this condition is not clear but may be related to levels of serotonin, vitamin D, or other hormones in the body. SAD can be treated with light therapy (exposing part of the body to sunlight for a prescribed amount of time daily) or medications. In some cases, surgery can be used to prevent the secretion of melatonin by the brain, thereby eliminating its influence over sleep patterns and causing SAD to go away forever.
People have different reasons for wanting a yearly do-over. Some people love the idea of starting fresh each year: new beginnings, new opportunities. For others, such as high school students, starting over means having a clean slate upon which to write their next chapter.
The vernal equinox (about March 21) marks the beginning of spring by making day and night equal in length. Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): the longest day of the year, marking the start of summer. Autumnal equinox (about September 23): a day and night of equal duration signaling the start of fall. Winter solstice (December 22): the shortest day of the year; the nights are long while the days are short.
Yes, there is a spring solstice. The term "solstice" means "sun stands still", and that's exactly what happens at these times: the sun is highest in the sky at its position near the equinox, so it must be closer to the earth than at any other time of the year. Therefore, it produces more heat during the day and less heat at night. At the winter solstice, the sun is far away from the earth on January 20 or 21.
This event occurs twice a year: around June 20-21 and around December 22. The first one is known as the solar solstice, because the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth is maximum then. The second one is known as the lunar solstice, because the amount of daylight reaches its minimum then. But both events are important for understanding our seasonal changes since they influence when plants grow and animals migrate.
At the solar solstice, the angle between the Earth and the Sun is greatest for the south pole.
The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21, and the winter solstice on December 24 in the Northern Hemisphere. Learn more about the summer solstice, when the sun takes the longest arc across the sky. The winter solstice is when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky at 0 degrees north latitude.
These astronomical events are important factors in determining when people have an opportunity to see the sunrise and sunset, which reflect certain cultural traditions regarding spirituality and life cycles. For example, people in some parts of the world celebrate the summer solstice with festivals that include fire dances and other activities intended to honor the Sun for bringing life to Earth. In the United States, people celebrate this event by holding summer solstice parties at beaches around the country.
The winter solstice is also a time for celebrating astronomy. The night is longest at 66 degrees north latitude, so people at these places get to see the northernmost stars during their nightly watch.
In fact, people have been making merry since the beginning of time by observing the constellations and learning about astronomy. Modern astronomers continue this tradition by enjoying the night sky and conducting research studies about planets, galaxies, and other objects in space.