September Equinox

There are two equinoxes every year – in September and March – when the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night is nearly equal. Seasons are opposite on either side of the equator, so the equinox in September is also known as the "autumnal (fall) equinox" in the northern hemisphere. However, in the southern hemisphere, it's known as the "spring (vernal) equinox".

The Earth's postion during the September equinox (ill. not to scale).

September Equinox in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. is on
Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 1:44 PM PDT (Change city)

September Equinox in Universal Coordinated Time is on
Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 20:44 UTC

• Local times for September Equinox 2013 worldwide
• Sunrise, sunset and daylength around September Equinox 2013
• Day and Night map for September Equinox 2013
• Countdown to September Equinox 2013 in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.
• Equinoxes and solstices from 2000–2049

Why is it called equinox?

On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world. This is the reason it's called an "equinox", derived from Latin, meaning "equal night".

However, even if this is widely accepted, it isn't entirely true. In reality equinoxes don't have exactly 12 hours of daylight

The September equinox occurs the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from north to south.

This happens either on September 22, 23, or 24 every year. On any other day of the year, the Earth's axis tilts a little away from or towards the Sun. But on the two equinoxes, the Earth's axis tilts neither away from nor towards the Sun, like the illustration shows.

                                          June Solstice | December solstice | March equinox

iPhone & iPad app:
Day and Night World Map
Watch the sun move across the sky.

Traditions and customs

In the northern hemisphere the September equinox marks the start of fall (autumn). Many cultures and religions celebrate or observe holidays and festivals around the September equinox.

Customs & Holidays around the March Equinox