Autumnal equinox musings

This post will be a short one, covering the autumnal equinox, which officially happens tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

(National Weather Service)

The autumnal equinox, which occurs between September 22 and 23 each year, marks the day when neither the northern hemisphere nor the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. On this day, both hemispheres receive equal amounts of sunlight - 12 hours (this is not totally accurate, as there are some technicalities here). 

Here in Middlebury, VT, the sun will rise at 6:40 a.m. tomorrow and set at 6:49 p.m. Here's where the technicality comes in - the sun officially rises when the first part of the circle is visible over the horizon, and it sets when the last part can no longer be seen, thus causing us to have 12 hours and 9 minutes of sunlight tomorrow. The center of the sun will be visible for exactly 12 hours tomorrow.

For many, the autumnal equinox is the official end of summer, and the days really start to get shorter over the next few months. Just one month from now, the sun will rise at 7:15 a.m. and set at 5:58 p.m.

I enjoyed my last morning of astronomical summer today by catching the sunrise atop the Middlebury College Snow Bowl - a great way to start my week!