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EQUINOXES
AND
SOLSTICES

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By Ms. Ashley

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THE EARTH IS TILTED
AS IT ORBITS THE SUN,

CAUSING THE SUN TO HIT THE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERES AT DIFFERENT TIMES
OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS HOW WE GET
SEASONS!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THERE ARE FOUR TIMES DURING EACH YEAR
WHEN EARTH'S AXIS ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE SUN.

THESE TIMES ARE KNOWN AS
EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES.

FUN FACT: THE SEASONS ARE OPPOSITE
IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES!

WHAT IS AN EQUINOX?

ALSO KNOWN AS AEQUUSNOX, OR "EQUAL NIGHT."

THE SUN WILL LOOK LIKE IT IS
DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EQUATOR.

OR, IT WILL BE VERY LOW ON THE HORIZON
AT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES.

DURING THIS TIME AT THE EQUATOR,
THE SUN WILL REACH THE ZENITH,
OR ITS HIGHEST POINT ABOVE US.

WHAT IS A SOLSTICE?

ALSO KNOWN AS SOSISTERE, OR "SUN TO STAND STILL."

THE SUN WILL HIT ONE HEMISPHERE ALMOST COMPLETELY
AND THE OTHER NOT AT ALL.

ON THESE DAYS,
ONE HEMISPHERE WILL HAVE ITS LONGEST DAY
AND THE OTHER WILL HAVE ITS SHORTEST DAY.

VERNAL EQUINOX

ALSO KNOWN AS SPRING IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
OR AUTUMN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

THIS EQUINOX OCCURS ON MARCH 20 OR 21.

THE EARTH'S AXIS IS PERPENDICULAR
TO THE SUN'S RAYS AT THIS TIME,
MEANING BOTH OF EARTH'S HEMISPHERES ARE
EQUAL DISTANCE FROM THE SUN.