CH 3 MOTIONS OF THE EARTH

Why is it called equinox?

The term equinox, like solstice, finds its origin in Latin with the roots aequus meaning “Equal” and nox meaning “Night.” Astronomers define the equinox as the moment the Earth’s Equator on its axis passes the same plane of the Sun’s equator, but its name reveals more of what we experience of these March and September .

Define equniox?

A solar equinox is a moment in time when the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator, which is to say, appears directly above the equator. On the day of the equinox, the Sun appears to rise “due east” and set “due west”. This occurs twice each year, around 20 March and 23 September.