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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE EQUINOX

~ a celebration of balance ~
home • equinox • wheel • astronomy • balance • traditions • about

🌍 The Astronomy of Equinoxes

Summer Solstice Sun Path (high arc):
       ____----____
      /            \
     /              \
----'                '----
    ↑                ↑
  Sunrise          Sunset

Equinox Sun Path (middle arc):
      __----__
     /        \
----/          \----
    ↑          ↑
  Sunrise    Sunset

Winter Solstice Sun Path (low arc):
    __--__
---/      \---
   ↑      ↑
 Sunrise Sunset

Why Equinoxes Happen

Earth's axis tilts 23.5° relative to its orbital plane. At the equinoxes, this tilt is neither toward nor away from the sun - it's perpendicular to the line connecting Earth and Sun.

📐 The word "equinox" comes from Latin: aequus (equal) + nox (night)

Equinox Facts

🌅 Due to atmospheric refraction, the sun appears above the horizon when it's actually below it - so "equal day and night" happens a few days before the spring equinox and after the autumn equinox.

Solstice Facts

~ The Equinox ~ built on the Spring Equinox 2026 ~

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