Articles About Seasons (42)
The Hunter's Moon
October’s Full Moon is the Hunter’s Moon. It's also called Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon.
Defining Seasons
When do seasons begin and end in the two hemispheres?
Full Moon Names
Full Moons had given names in many ancient cultures. The Full Moon names we use today often reflect nature like Harvest Moon.
The Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar that was first adopted in 1582.
December Solstice
The December solstice is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
When Is Winter Solstice?
The Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is in December, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it's in June.
What Causes Seasons on Earth?
Seasons change because Earth's rotational axis tilts away or towards the Sun during the course of a year.
September Equinox
The Sun shines directly on the Equator on the September equinox and the length of day and night is nearly equal, but not quite.
June Solstice
The June solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere & the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere.
Harvest Moon in September or October?
The Harvest Moon varies between September or October in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the Full Moon nearest the autumnal (fall) equinox.
March Equinox
March equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the Southern Hemisphere's autumnal/fall equinox.
When Is Fall Equinox?
The fall (autumnal) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is in September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's in March.
When Is Spring Equinox?
The Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is in March. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's in September.
Equation of Time
Why doesn't the year's earliest sunset occur on the winter solstice, even though it is the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight?
December Solstice Facts
10 things you may not know about the December Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Equinox: Equal Day & Night?
Equinoxes don't have exactly 12 hours of day and night all over the world, like many believe. Such days, called equilux, do occur, but depend on your location.
November: Beaver Moon
The Full Moon in November is named after beavers. It is also called Frost Moon and Mourning Moon, depending on the winter solstice.
The Ethiopian Calendar
The Ethiopian calendar is quite similar to the Julian calendar, which was the predecessor to the Gregorian calendar most countries use today.
Earth Is Tilted
When an object the size of Mars crashed into the newly formed planet Earth around 4.5 billion years ago, it knocked it over and left it tilted at an angle.
When Is Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is in June, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it's in December.
10 September Equinox Facts
10 things you may not know about the September Equinox.
January: Wolf Moon
The January Full Moon is named after howling wolves. In some cultures, it was known as Old Moon, Ice Moon, Snow Moon, and the Moon after Yule.
December: Cold Moon
The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, the Moon before Yule, Oak Moon, and Wolf Moon.
August: Sturgeon Moon
The Full Moon in August is named after the lake sturgeon. Other names for this Full Moon include Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon, Fruit Moon, and Barley Moon.
What Are Polar Nights?
A Polar Night is a night that lasts for at least 24 hours. It's the opposite of Midnight Sun / Polar Day.
A Year Is Never 365 Days
The definition of a tropical year is the time it takes the Earth to complete a full orbit around the Sun. It is approximately 365.242189 days long.
June Solstice Facts
11 things you may not know about the June Solstice.
March: Worm Moon
The Full Moon in March is the Worm Moon. It is also called Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Chaste Moon, Sugar Moon, and Sap Moon.
March Equinox Facts
On Sat, March 20, 2021, day and night will be of almost equal duration in most time zones in the world.
September: Harvest or Corn Moon
The September Full Moon is usually the Harvest Moon, but this depends on the equinox. It is also called Full Corn Moon or Barley Moon.
February: Snow Moon
The February Full Moon is named after the snow on the ground. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon.
April: Pink Moon
Pink Moon comes from Pink Wild Ground Phlox which bloom in spring. Other names for this Full Moon are Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Hare Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon.
June Solstice Traditions
In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the June solstice is associated with holidays, feasts and celebrations.
June: Strawberry Moon
The wild strawberries that start to ripen gave name to the Full Moon in June. Other names are Rose Moon, Hot Moon, and Mead Moon.
May: Flower Moon
The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Corn Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon, while some named it the Hare moon.
Chinese Leap Month
Instead of adding one leap day on February 29 nearly every four years, the Chinese add a leap month every three years to keep their calendar in line with the Earth's rotation.
July: Buck Moon
The Full Moon in July is the Buck Moon. Is is also called Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and Wort Moon.
September Equinox Customs
Folklore, customs, traditions and holidays surrounding the September equinox.
The Ethiopian Leap Year
A leap year occurs every 4 years in the Ethiopian calendar when one extra day is added at the end of the year.
Zodiacal lights
Also known as false dawn, zodiacal lights are rare optical phenomena that occur around sunset and sunrise in early spring and late fall.
March Equinox Customs
Learn more about the customs, traditions and events surrounding the March equinox.
Leap Year in the Bahá'í Calendar
The Bahá'í leap year occurs when five extra days are added between the last two months of the calendar. Leap years usually occur every four years.