Equinox. It's about exactness, and perfect balance.
At sunset today, the setting sun will cross the horizon exactly due west. All over the earth. I won't see it here, there are clouds; but still it's true. I check with my compass whenever I have clear weather on the equinox, and access to an unobstructed horizon for sunrise or sunset, and it's always true. Due east. Due west. True everywhere.
At 8:09 PM our time, the celestial equator and the ecliptic intersect. (No, I can't visualize it, but I know it's true.) At 8:09 PM our time, the axis of the Earth is not tilted toward or away from the Sun and the circle of illumination cuts through the poles. At 8:09 PM our time, it is the moment when the Sun is positioned directly over the Earth's equator.
Today, everyone on the globe has exactly the same experience of daylight: exactly as much light as darkness. This is not an occasion of sadness. This is... wow. Something like actual magic.
1 comment:
I love this! You made it perfectly clear and absolutely magical. We saw it, and Jupiter. What an incredible night on earth.
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