On March 21, 2023, the Sun passed directly over the equator of the Earth. This phenomenon, known as the equinox, occurs twice a year and is one of the markers of the Sun.
The equinox makes the length of day and night equal, and it is also one of the three markers of the Sun, the other two being solstices and periapsis.
According to the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) Twitter account, the equinox phenomenon occurred on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 04:24 WIB / 05:24 WITA / 06:24 WIT.
The next equinox will occur in September 2023, and the Sun will pass over the equator once again on September 23, 2023, at 04:09 WIB / 05:09 WITA / 06:09 WIT.
Andi Pangerang, from the BRIN Space Research Center, explained that the equinox occurs twice a year, with one of them happening every March when the Earth’s northern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun.
During the equinox, the boundary between day and night is parallel to the Earth’s longitude line, and as a result, the Sun rises precisely in the east and sets precisely in the west.
The equinox is just one of the many astronomical events that have significant effects on our planet. The Earth’s rotation and orbit around the Sun, which causes the equinox, also cause other events like solstices.
The solstice occurs twice a year when the Sun reaches its highest and lowest point in the sky, respectively. The solstice is also caused by the Earth’s rotation and tilt on its axis, and it has an impact on seasonal changes, especially for subtropical and high-latitude countries.
In summary, the equinox is a fascinating astronomical phenomenon that occurs twice a year and marks the moment when the Sun passes over the equator.
It has significant effects on the length of day and night, and its occurrence is a significant event for astronomers and other interested parties who are passionate about studying the cosmos.
