Australian Politics Forum - Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.

Bobby.

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Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.
Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 5:51am

Spring is officially here in Melbourne and Sydney.

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.

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Bobby.

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Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.
Reply #1 - Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 6:00am

It's time to plant your tomatoes.

I planted one of these

https://www.bunnings.com.au/100mm-tomato-tigerella-solanum-lycopersicum_p0101078

100mm Tomato Tigerella - Solanum lycopersicum

$5.19

Features
The best yielding tomato
Bears up to 20kg fruit per plant
Crops well in all areas
Red and yellow striped fruit to 5cm
Excellent salad variety
The best-yielding tomato The Diggers Club has ever grown, each plant bears up to 20kg of delicious, red-yellow striped fruit. Harvest 10 weeks from transplant.

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.
Reply #2 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 4:11am

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?

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Bobby.

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Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.
Reply #3 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 9:47am

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 25^th, 2026 at 4:11am:

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?

Rockhampton?
You are just north of the Tropic of Capricorn - so you are in the tropics -
the Equinox doesn't affect you much.

Melbourne is cold and damp in winter.
Luckily I have a gas heater.

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 62294 Here Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #4 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 10:10am Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Happy Ostara day.
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UnSubRocky Gold Member Offline Crocodile Hunter: Origins Posts: 26268 Rockhampton Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #5 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 10:22am There is this grey mist looking thing in the sky preventing sunlight from coming through. I think they are called "clouds", and some water is falling from them. I think... I think that is called "rain".
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Dnarever

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Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here.
Reply #6 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 10:28am

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

Spring is officially here in Melbourne and Sydney.

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.

Quote:

bringing progressively shorter days and longer nights until the winter solstice.

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) ......

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UnSubRocky Gold Member Offline Crocodile Hunter: Origins Posts: 26268 Rockhampton Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #7 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:31am The southern states must be a month behind in the seasons. It is usually a new season in the tropics a month before what the "official" starting date says.
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tallowood Gold Member Offline Израиль Навсегда Posts: 9211 Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #8 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:37am Christmas is coming.
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Bobby. Moderator Offline Australian Politics Posts: 122093 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #9 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:41am tallowood wrote on Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:37am: Christmas is coming. 3 months away or about 12 weeks.
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tallowood Gold Member Offline Израиль Навсегда Posts: 9211 Gender:	Re: Equinox is today 23rd Sept 2026 Spring is here. Reply #10 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:46am Bobby. wrote on Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:41am: tallowood wrote on Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:37am: Christmas is coming. 3 months away or about 12 weeks. Equinox to Solstice: ~13 weeks.
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