It’s hard to believe, but summer will come to an end this week. The first official day of fall begins at 4:02 p.m. Friday. This is exact moment when the sun’s path crosses directly over the equator.
The changing of the seasons is due to the tilt of the earth, at 23½ degrees, and its orbit around the sun. During the summer, the northern hemisphere is titled towards the sun, allowing for a higher sun angle and longer days. This helps to warm areas above the equator.
The opposite happens during the winter. It’s during the equinoxes, first day of fall and spring, that the northern and southern hemispheres both receive nearly the same amount of sunlight. Read more at Dayton Daily News.
The autumnal equinox or September equinox falls on September 22. Here’s everything you need to know about the equinox and signs of the equinox in nature shared by Almanac.com.