The
Autumn Equinox
The 2019 autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs Monday, September 23, at 0:51am PDT (07:51 UT), when the Sun enters Libra. It is one of the two days of the year that the Sun moves across the celestial equator, the imaginary line among the stars that lies directly above the Earth's equator circling from east to west. The Sun's crossing of the celestial equator occurs one other time on the spring equinox. Both times this crossing occurs, the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west!
Image: TheSky Astronomy Software
The
Sun crosses the celestial equator at both equinoxes.
The Sun is ascending "springing" in March,
and
descending "falling" in September.
At this special moment – the instant of the September equinox – the midday sun will be at zenith, or straight overhead, at the Earth’s equator. That’s the meaning of equinox. The September equinox sun crosses the sky’s equator, going from north to south.
Who will see the sun overhead at the moment of this year’s equinox? ... Everyone along Earth’s equator on the day of the equinox – and for a day or two before and after it – will experience that noonday sun more or less overhead.
... On the day of the equinox, the sun rises due east and sets due west all over the world, with everyone worldwide receiving approximately equal portions of day and night. EarthSky.org
Note: The Sun crosses the equator from north to south for both hemispheres at the September equinox, however the daily path of the noonday Sun "springs up" toward the north for the Southern Hemisphere's springtime and continues to "fall" toward the south for the Northern Hemisphere's fall or autumn. (Reminder: Spring begins in the SH and autumn begins in the NH at the Sept. equinox.)
Equinox, which means "equal night" refers to a time when the length of day and night are equal. As the Sun crosses the celestial equator, the axis of the Earth points neither toward nor away from the Sun resulting in in 12 hours of darkness and light over the planet.
... Since the Earth's tilt relative to the Sun is constantly changing, the 12-hour symmetry can be only approximately true anywhere. However, if you look at the sunrise sunset times for your location, you find that it is several minutes off on this date. Why? It's because the refracting or bending effects of the Earth's atmosphere alters the observed time of sunrise and sunset. The Sun rises a little earlier and sets a little later due to this effect, causing the observed equinox to precede the true equinox by a few days in spring. In the fall it follows by a few days. Larry Sessions Originally for Space.com
Seasons and the Celestial Sphere
The path of the Sun in the sky intersects the celestial sphere and marks the seasons. At the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the Sun intersects the celestial equator it rises due east and sets due west. At the summer solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest point north of the celestial equator it rises as far northeast as it can and sets as far northwest as it can. At the winter solstice, when the Sun reaches its lowest point south of the celestial equator it rises as far southeast as it can and sets as far southwest as it can.
... on the week before and after the equinox the Sun changes its rising and setting position on the horizon each day by a full Sun's width, which is over half a degree. (moving from north to south) Of course you have to be careful not to stare at the Sun as it rises or sets. On the equinox it will rise due east and set due west, but then the following week watch it again dramatically change ... as it moves from due east toward the south and you'll be absolutely amazed! Star Gazer
The
autumn equinox occurs at the exact moment in time
when the Sun, heading from the north to the south,
appears in the sky at the point
where
the ecliptic crosses
the celestial
equator.
Image: HyperPhysics
Here's a list of autumn equinox facts from The Seasons by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa:
The direct rays (of the Sun) are at the equator
Six months of darkness begins at the North Pole
Six months of light begins at the South Pole
Twelve hours of darkness and twelve hours of light all over the earth
It is the longest day of the year on the equator, again (spring equinox is the longest day, previous)
The sun rises due east and sets due west
Autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere
Spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere
Hmmm ... check out the Spring Equinox page for more equinox facts and surprise your friends with them.
Autumn is Aurora Season
Autumn and spring are good aurora
seasons, winter and summer are poor.
Meditative insights for the Autumn Equinox
Global Meditations ~ September Equinox 2019
There are a variety of equinox global meditations occurring at various times during the day. Participate in one or more of these meditations to strengthen the Light Grid of planet Earth. Those living in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are participating in September's equinox meditations.
Equinox
Exact: Monday, September 23
at 0:51am PDT (07:51 UT)
Global
Equinox Meditation ~ Sept. 23, 2019
(2018 Winter Solstice Meditation is used as a guide.)
Begins 24 mins. before the exact solstice.
Exact solstice time is listed above.
OR ...
Choose a time that suits you.
A 30-min.
recording includes a 13-min.
guided meditation and several inspiring
musical tracks. It was designed to be used
for the 2018 winter solstice and anytime
during the new 2019 spiritual cycle. The
cornerstone of our global spiritual work
at this time is knowing who we are
and why we are here. You may want
to note down any strong images or
feelings, or elements of new spiritual
understanding that you may have
experienced during the meditation,
so that you may refer to them later
to integrate them into your daily life.
A New Earth is slowly emerging from
the depths of our immortal Self as we
reconnect with the Source of All in us.
Thank you for sharing this invitation.
Healing
Our Oceans ~
Marine Meditation
September Equinox
8:00pm your time
This "Wave" meditation
directs healing and loving
energies to the oceans of the world and will circle
the planet during this 24-hour period.
Gather for "Healing the Oceans of the World"
at a body of water or a sacred site.
The following link is related ...
Golden
Water Activation Meditation
Merge with dolphin and whale consciousness.
Worldwide
Didgeridoo Meditation
September Equinox ~ Sunset Your Time
This
a worldwide link-up of people supporting
environmental and personal awareness.
It is held on the equinoxes and solstices.
Starting at sunset participants are asked to
play or listen to meditative music
(preferably didgeridoos) for 45 minutes
and then sit silently for 15 minutes.
Be with us in spirit as much as you can
during that hour beginning at sunset.
This wave meditation starts in New Zealand,
is followed by Australia, Asia, Arab countries,
Israel, Africa, Europe, with America,
Canada, Middle and South America
completing the world wide circle.
Participants
Worldwide
Global Sunrse
Sunset Times
Current and Ongoing Global Meditations
Have an Awesome Autumn!
I'd
like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun
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