Difference between equinox and solstice

Last update: 21/05/2023
Author: Sebastian Vidal

Introduction

In astronomy, there are four points in the year that are very important and marked on the calendar. These points are related to the position of the Sun on Earth: the equinoxes and the solstices.

What is the equinox?

The equinox is the time of year when day and night have the same length, that is, 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. This is because the Sun is located right on the equator. of the Earth, and the sun's rays fall perpendicularly in that area.

There are two equinoxes in the year: the spring equinox and the autumn equinox. The spring equinox occurs around March 20 and the autumn equinox occurs around September 22.

What is the solstice?

The solstice, on the other hand, is the time of year when the day is longer or shorter than the night. This is because the Sun is at its highest (summer solstice) or lowest (winter solstice) point relative to the Earth's equator.

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There are two solstices in the year: the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice. The summer solstice occurs around June 21, and the winter solstice occurs around December 22.

Differences between equinox and solstice

  • The main difference between the equinox and the solstice is the length of day and night.
  • At the equinox, the length of day and night is the same, while at the solstice, the day is longer or shorter than the night.
  • The equinox occurs when the Sun is at the Earth's equator, while the solstice occurs when the Sun is at its highest or lowest point relative to the Earth's equator.

Summary

In conclusion, the equinox and solstice are important events in astronomy and the calendar. The equinox is the time when day and night are of equal length, while the solstice is the time when the day is longer or shorter than the night. Both events are related to the position of the Sun on Earth and occur twice a year, both the equinox and the solstice are events that mark the beginning of each season of the year.

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