The vernal (spring) equinox occurs around which date?

The vernal (spring) equinox occurs around which date?

• A. March 21
• B. September 23
• C. June 21
• D. December 22

Answer: (A)

The vernal equinox marks the moment when the Sun is directly above the Earth’s equator, so day and night are about equal in length. This event signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs around March 20 or 21 each year because the calendar year doesn’t line up perfectly with the solar year, but March 21 is the commonly cited date for this equinox. The other dates correspond to different solar events: September 23 is the autumnal equinox, June 21 is the summer solstice, and December 22 is the winter solstice.

The vernal equinox marks the moment when the Sun is directly above the Earth’s equator, so day and night are about equal in length. This event signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs around March 20 or 21 each year because the calendar year doesn’t line up perfectly with the solar year, but March 21 is the commonly cited date for this equinox. The other dates correspond to different solar events: September 23 is the autumnal equinox, June 21 is the summer solstice, and December 22 is the winter solstice.