Solstices and Equinoxes [Dates and Times] - Equinox World (2024)

Equinoxes and solstices are two of the most important celestial events on Earth. The equinoxes occur around March 20 and September 22 each year, corresponding to an equal length of day and night. The Earth tilts on its axis so that the sun shines directly over the equator on these days.

Equinox

The equinoxes, or “equal nights,” happen twice a year: around March 20 and September 21. Equinox comes from Latin, meaning “equal night.” The two equinoxes occur in March and September; the two solstices occur in June and December.

The northern hemisphere experiences a summer solstice when the sun is directly overhead at its farthest north point in the sky. This happens around June 21 each year. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s around December 21 each year.

Solstices

As the winter solstice approaches, the sun will be directly overhead at its farthest south point in the sky. This happens around December 21 each year. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s around June 21 each year.

In addition to equinoxes and solstices, two other astronomical periods occur yearly: perihelion and aphelion. These are times when Earth is closest or furthest from the sun (respectively).

Date and Time for Solstices and Equinoxes

The following are the times and dates of equinoxes and solstices from 2017 to 2030. These times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Coordinated Universal Time is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). For example, 3:31 am Tuesday, Eastern Time (ET) is 8:31 am Tuesday, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

There is always a long period between sunrise and sunset for observers within a few degrees of the equator. Higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere experience equal day and night before the March equinox.

The daytime continues to be longer than the nighttime until after the September equinox. In the Southern Hemisphere, the equal day and night dates arrive before the September equinox and after the March equinox.

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