Northern Hemisphere Summer of 2006 Officially Over

The autumnal equinox came to the eastern U.S. at three minutes past midnight this morning. An equinox is a point in time where the sun is directly over the equator. The autumnal equinox, like its March cousin – the vernal equinox is only one of two days during the year that the sun transits the equator. The equinoxes are also the only two days where the amount of day and night are the same length. But it also signifies the official end of summer and is the first day of fall. For you astrology buffs, the autumnal equinox is sometimes called the first point of Libra; the vernal equinox is the first point of Aries.

In the old world, the autumnal equinox marked the second day of harvest with the first being August 1st. It was a time to begin preparing for the coming winter. For most of us living in the 21st century it means we will notice shorter amounts of daylight each day and dropping temperatures as winter approaches. The amount of daylight actually begins to decrease each June 21-22 at the time of the summer solstice; but people do not really notice this as summer is usually just getting into full swing.

So enjoy another beautiful fall season in Croton and the Hudson Valley as winter is now noticeably approaching. The good news: the days will begin getting longer again around December 21 or the winter solstice.

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