IDTIMWYTIM: Equinox (Stupid Latin!)

TL;DR

The equinox is not actually a day but a moment of astronomical alignment, and the length of day and night is not equal due to several factors such as the size of the sun and atmospheric refraction.

Transcript

The fall equinox is just a few days away marking the end of summer and the beginning of autumn and everybody remembers what the equinox is because of its name equinox: latin for "equal night" it's the time of year that comes once in March and once in September in which night and day are the same length, everywhere in the world. Lies, friends. All l... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥳 The equinox is a moment of astronomical alignment, not a full day.
• 🥳 The length of day and night during the equinox is not equal due to factors such as the size of the sun and atmospheric refraction.
• 🥳 Geographical location affects the duration of the equinox, with higher latitudes experiencing longer equinox days.
• 😎 The equinox is a result of the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the sun.
• ❓ The equinox is an important event for astronomers and is associated with the changing of seasons.
• 🌃 The term "equinox" is derived from Latin, meaning "equal night," but the length of day and night is not actually equal during the equinox.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is an equinox?

The equinox is a moment when the Earth's axis is perpendicular to the sun, resulting in a time when day and night are approximately equal in length.

Q: Why is the equinox not a full day?

The equinox is not a full day because it is a specific moment when the Earth's axis is aligned with the sun, and it occurs when the center of the sun is directly above the equator.

Q: Why is the length of day and night not equal during the equinox?

The length of day and night during the equinox is not equal due to several factors, including the size of the sun. The sun's disk appears above the horizon before its center, causing the day to be longer than the night.

Q: How does atmospheric refraction affect the length of day during the equinox?

Atmospheric refraction causes the sun's rays to be refracted, allowing us to see the top edge of the sun before it rises and after it sets. This makes each day, including the equinox, appear at least six minutes longer than its actual length.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The equinox is a moment of astronomical alignment when the Earth's axis is perpendicular to the sun, but it is not a full day.

• The length of day and night during the equinox is not equal due to the size of the sun and atmospheric refraction.

• The angle of the sun's approach to the horizon and geographical location affects the duration of the equinox.