It is on this day, September 22, 2026, when the sun crosses the earth’s celestial equator heading south. Most people probably believe that it is on this day that the periods of day and night are the same: that those living north of the equator will begin experiencing longer nights and shorter days, and that those living south of the equator will begin experiencing longer days and shorter nights. This notion is not correct, however.
Those of us living at different distances from the earth’s equator (different latitudes) experience equal amounts of day and night (equilux) at different times. The equilux and the equinox only ever truly correspond, if you live along the equator — even then, there is a few minutes lag between them.
In the end, the equinox is something that all of humanity experiences at the same time, the equilux is experienced at the same time by only those living at the same distance (latitude) from the equator.
If you live very far from the equator, as do I in Seattle, you will not experience equal amounts of day light and night time until several days after the equinox takes place. The further away from the equator that you live the greater the delay in the equilux.
Alas, what we all share in common on the day and time of the equinox is the expectation that all of us who do not live along the equator will soon begin to experience either shorter days and longer nights, or shorter nights and longer days.
I wish you a very happy Autumn Equinox — even if you do live along the equator!
Roddy