The
Spring-Equinox
Time, and the seasons
on earth, are caused by natural movements of the earth and the sun
in relationship to one another. In some systems the moon also takes
part (the Mayan system of timekeeping).
The seasons are
caused due to the fact that the earth is slightly tilted in
reference to its vertical axis (about 23 degrees), and travels its
path around the sun each year in that tilted fashion.
Thus we experience
the sun around us in a changing manner with reference to the
equator. In Autumn and Winter the sun orbits (seemingly, because of
course it is the earth which travels around the sun) the Southern
Hemisphere, and in Spring and Summer on the Northern Hemisphere.
There are two yearly
passages across the equator when the sun moves from South to North
and vice versa, and these are the moments that the amount of
daylight equals the amount of night, i.e. twelve hours each. Spring
is that moment each year when the sun crosses the equator and starts
to orbit the Northern hemisphere. It is called Spring-Equinox and
astrologically, the sign of Aries then begins. After that, daylight
is on the increase on the Northern hemisphere. Autumn is the reverse
moment. The sun then crosses the equator once again, but southward
to orbit the Southern hemisphere. Moreover, the further south or
north of the equator we live, the more difference we will notice
between the hours of daylight and darkness. At the summersolstice
around June 21, when the Sun has reached its most northerly point
and enters the astrological sign of Cancer, the midsummerfests are
held in Scandinavia as from their point of view, the sun does not
even set during that moment! Just as the sun does not even rise
during Winter..
This year, in 2010,
Spring will start March 20 at exactly 5.33 pm UT. (Universal Time).
It varies from year to year due to slight variations of the motions
of the earth, but it always is around March 21. Each baby born in
2010 after 5.33 pm UT March 20 will already be an Aries.