The September equinox occurred on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. ET (00:05 UTC on September 23),
marking the official start of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

What Happens During the Equinox
Sun Position:
The sun shines directly overhead the Earth's equator.

Equal Day and Night:
Day and night are nearly equal in length (about 12 hours each) across most of the globe.

Axial Tilt: Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun.

Seasonal Context
Northern Hemisphere:
Marks the transition from summer to astronomical fall (autumn),
bringing progressively shorter days and longer nights until the winter solstice.

Southern Hemisphere:
Marks the transition from winter to astronomical spring, bringing longer days and warmer weather.

I am still trying to understand the dates of the Autumn and Spring Equinoxes. I realise that the leap day forces the change of the equinoxes and solstices. But, it is not like I pay much attention to the dates. It is always something like 6 weeks of winter with relatively similar sunrises and sunsets. And summer just drags on for 4 or 5 months (October to February here).

How do you guys manage the winters in Melbourne, Bobby?

Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.


Happy Ostara day.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 5:51am:


Quote:


I don't think this bit is helpful it's not really true the days have already got longer or shorter by this time. The day lenth direction changes at the respective Solstice. There is roughly 3 months difference so the days have already been getting longer so shorter for about 3 months before the equinox and in fact will originally get longer and then shorter between them.

From today in Australia the days continue to get longer till the next solstace and then gets shorter through the following equinox (50 / 50) till the next solstice.

We go from 50/50 mix day/night (equinox) to lonest day (summer solstace) ......

Christmas is coming.

Bobby. wrote Yesterday at 11:41am:


Equinox to Solstice: ~13 weeks.