Why is Vernal equinox important?

Answer 1

Well, it's importance is relative. First of all, it signifies the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Equinox means "Equal Night", in other words, both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive equal amounts of day time and night time on this day. Does that help?

Answer 2

The word "vernal" refers to the season of spring, as the word autumnal refers to the season of autumn, or fall. The vernal equinox for one half of the Earth is the start of the Spring season, and one of two times a year when the day and night are roughly equal in length for most of the planet. At these times the Sun crosses the plane of the Earth's equator. The vernal equinox for the Northern Hemisphere is the March equinox (March 20). The vernal equinox for the Southern Hemisphere is either September 22 or 23, the day termed the autumnal equinox for the north.

Every year the Earth goes once around the Sun; that is, after all, the definition of a year. The Earth spins on its axis, and this axis happens to be tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to Earth's orbital plane. As a result, for half of each year, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun for the other half the southern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun. This causes the different seasons of the year.

When the north is tilting toward the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences longer days and warmer temperatures, beginning in the spring. When the south is tilted toward the Sun, then the southern hemisphere generally experiences the warmer weather.

As the earth revolves around the sun there are two moments (not whole days) of the year when the Sun appears exactly above the equator. At these times neither pole tilts toward the Sun. These moments are called "equinoxes". One occurs in March as the northern hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun. In the north, that equinox is called the "vernal" or spring equinox, the beginning of spring. The other, in September, is the autumnal equinox and is the first day of fall (autumn). In the southern hemisphere, the March equinox is autumnal, and the September equinox is vernal. Around the time of either equinox (which means "equal night") the daylight period of the day is about the same length of time as the night time period.

Astronomy

The term Vernal Equinox has another meaning in astronomy: the point in the heavens which is the location of the Sun at the moment of the northern vernal equinox. This point is useful as an astronomical marker, but because of something called 'precession' it moves very slowly. At one time this point was called the "First Point of Aries", because it was located just over the boundary of the constellation Aries. It is no longer there.

*The actual distance from the Earth to the Sun is not the cause of the seasons. During the northern winter, the Earth is actually a little closer to the Sun than it is during the northern summer.

Answer 3

On the equinoxes, the Sun is directly over the equator and the length of the days and nights are the same.

(Actually, they aren't QUITE the same. Because of the way that the Earth's atmosphere "refracts" or bends the Sun's light around the curve of the Earth, the Sun _seems to_ rise about 3 minutes before it ACTUALLY rises. When you can see the Sun right at the horizon, the Sun is actually about a degree BELOW the horizon, and the light is being bent around the Earth.)

Answer 4

The vernal equinox is the day in spring ("vernal") when the daylight and nighttime portions of the day are the same length ("equinox"). It's officially the "first day of spring", though in terms of the actual weather it's usually more like "about a third of the way into spring-like conditions".

There are two days every year where the daylight and nighttime portions last 12 hours each: the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox. You should be able to guess what the autumnal equinox is, since unlike vernal, "autumnal" is fairly close to (one of) the English words for the season.

Answer 5

The vernal equinox is important because it marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, where day and night are roughly equal in length. It symbolizes a time of renewal, growth, and balance in nature. Additionally, various cultures and traditions around the world celebrate the vernal equinox as a time of spiritual significance.

Answer 6

One significant fact about the equinoxes is the setting of the date for Easter. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

Answer 7

The vernal equinox marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern hemisphere.

Answer 8

The point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator, the sun having a northerly motion.

Answer 9

Night and day are the same length of time. The sun is at declination zero.