In astronomy, an equinox is defined as the moment when the sun reaches one of two intersections between the ecliptic and the celestial equator. The word "equinox" comes from the Latin for "equal night"; the equinoxes in March and September are the two occasions each year when the day and the night are of equal duration. For measuring the length of a day, sunrise is the moment when the sun is half-above the horizon and sunset is the moment when the sun is half-under the horizon. Using this definition, the length of the da ...

Including:

• Equinox - Apparent behaviour of the sun
• Equinox - March equinox
• Equinox - September equinox
• Equinox - Equinoctial point

Read more here: » Equinox: Encyclopedia - Equinox

See also:

Equinox, Equinox - Apparent behaviour of the Sun, Equinox - March equinox, Equinox - September equinox, Equinox - Equinoctial point

Read more here: » Equinox: Encyclopedia II - Equinox - Apparent behaviour of the Sun

Equinox: Equal night. That time, or place, in the ecliptic where the days and nights are of equal length which happens twice yearly when the Sun enters Aries (Vernal equinox) and Libra (autumnal equinox), from whence these signs derive the term, equinoctial signs.

(See also: Equinox, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

On the equinoxes, everywhere over the globe, the sun rises true east (parallel to lines of latitude), sets at true west, and the length of the day equals the length of the night. Equinox - March equinox. At the North pole the sun passes from a 6-month-long night to a 6-month-long day. At the Arctic circle the sun reaches an altitude of 23° in the South. At the Tropic of Cancer the sun reaches an altitude of 67° in the South. At the equator the sun rises in a vertical line from the East on the horizon to the zenith, and then sets in a ...

See also:

Equinox, Equinox - Apparent behaviour of the sun, Equinox - March equinox, Equinox - September equinox, Equinox - Equinoctial point

Read more here: » Equinox: Encyclopedia II - Equinox - Apparent behaviour of the sun

The autumnal equinox (or fall equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical autumn. It occurs during the month of September in the Northern Hemisphere, and during March in the Southern Hemisphere. In Chinese culture it marks the middle of autumn. At the same moment that the autumnal equinox occurs in one hemisphere, it is the time of the vernal equinox in the other hemisphere. Autumnal equinox - The solar term Qiufen in Chinese astronomy. Qiufen (秋分) is a solar term begins whe ...

Including:

• Autumnal equinox - The solar term Qiufen in Chinese astronomy
• Autumnal equinox - Holidays

Read more here: » Autumnal equinox: Encyclopedia - Autumnal equinox

March 21 - Vernal Equinox - Lady Day

As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the 'Ostara' and is sacred to Eostre, Saxon lunar goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word 'eostrogen'), whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit. The Christian religion adopted these emblems for 'Easter', celebrated the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The theme of the conception of the Goddess was adapted as the 'Feast of the Annunciation', occuring on the alternative fixed calendar date of March 25 ('Old Lady Day'), the earlier date of the equinox. 'Lady Day' may also refer to other goddesses (such as Venus and Aphrodite), many of whom has festivals celebrated at this time. (The name 'Ostara' is incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca.)

Read more here: » Wiccan Holidays: March 21 - Vernal Equinox - Lady Day

September 21 - Autumnal Equinox - Harvest Home

In many mythologies, this is the day the Sun God, the God of Light, is killed by his rival and dark twin, the God of Darkness - who was born at Midsummer, reached puberty at Lammas, and lives a mirror-image life of the Sun God. From this mid-Autumn day forward, darkness will be greater than light, just as night becomes longer than day. So it is a festival of sacrifice, including that of the Sun God in his aspect of Spirit of the Fields, John Barleycorn - for this is the final grain harvest. The Christian religion adopted it as 'Michaelmas', celebrated on the alternative date September 25, the old equinox date (Old Harvest Home). (The Welsh word 'Mabon', meaning 'son', is used by some Witches for the name of this holiday, although such usage is recent and not attested historically.)

Read more here: » Wiccan Holidays: September 21 - Autumnal Equinox - Harvest Home

Nearly 80 per cent of the people of Assam are dependent on agriculture and spontaneous celebration of festivities is associated with the beginning and end of the harvest season. Bihu from the Sanskrit Vishu, is the harvest festival of Assam and is celebrated thrice in a year. The festival at the beginning of the spring season is Bohag Bihu, associated with the Vernal equinox in Chaitra Sankranti. The Kati Bihu is associated with the Autumnal equinox in Ashwina Sankranti.

People often call the Kati Bihu as Kangali Bihu as there is nothing much to eat during that period. People welcome budding paddy crops. The Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu associated with the winter solstice is celebrated with food and drinks after harvest, in Pausa Sankranti.

(See also: Bihu, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Today, as the vernal equinox bathes the universe in a golden glow and Spring dances in seen and unseen splendour, it is amply clear that once you are with God, everything's possible.

Today is Jamshedji Navroze , the original new year. It is celebrated by Parsees today - as it was by the people of ancient Iran - with good reason. The day marks the birth of Creation and therefore, your birth and mine too. It also celebrates Prophet Zarathushtra's profound pronouncements, the beauty and truth of which I've gleaned with my own limited vision from the scriptures.

(See also: Jamshedji Navroze, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. It occurs during the month of March in the Northern Hemisphere, and during September in the Southern Hemisphere. In Chinese culture the vernal equinox marks the middle of spring. At the same moment that the vernal equinox occurs in one hemisphere, it is the time of the autumnal equinox in the other hemisphere. Vernal equinox - Chunfen in Chinese calendar. Chunfen (春分) is a solar term begins when Sun l ...

Including:

• Vernal equinox - Chunfen in Chinese calendar
• Vernal equinox - Holidays
• Vernal equinox - Egg-balancing myth

Read more here: » Vernal equinox: Encyclopedia - Vernal equinox

Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Includes:

October 31 - November Eve - Samhain

December 21 - Winter Solstice - Yule

January 31 - February Eve - Imbolc

March 21 - Vernal Equinox - Lady Day

April 30 - May Eve - Beltaine

June 21 - Summer Solstice - Litha

July 31 - August Eve - Lughnassad

September 21 - Autumnal Equinox - Harvest Home

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the Sun in relation to the earth's equator. The name is derived from Latin solstitium (from sol: "sun" and sistere: "stand still"). During the year, the position of the sun seen from earth moves North and South. When it changes direction it stands still momentarily. So solstices are those moments of the year when the sun reaches its southernmost or northernmost position, ...

Including:

• Solstice - Behaviour of the sun
• Solstice - June solstice
• Solstice - December solstice

Read more here: » Solstice: Encyclopedia - Solstice

In astronomy and navigation, the celestial sphere is an imaginary rotating sphere of "gigantic radius", concentric with the Earth. All objects in the sky can be thought of as lying upon the sphere. Projected, from their corresponding terrain equivalents, are the celestial equator and the celestial poles. Many ancient societies believed that the stars were equidistant from the Earth and that this sphere was a real model of the universe. This model is a useful abstraction, but not correct. Everything we see in the sky is so very ...

Including:

• Celestial sphere - External link

Read more here: » Celestial sphere: Encyclopedia - Celestial sphere

Agrahayana (Hindi: अगहन agahan) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Agrahayana is the ninth month of the year, beginning on 22 November and ending on 21 December. In Vedic times, this month was also known as Maargashirsha after the nakshatra (asterisms) Mrigashira. The word agrahayan means the month of ayan or equinox (agra=first + ayan = travel of the sun, equinox). The aligning of this name with the Mrigashira asterism (lambda orionis), gives rise to speculation that this name may have been given when the sun was near Orion at the ti ...

Read more here: » Agrahayana: Encyclopedia - Agrahayana

X Sagittarii is a cepheid variable star in the constellation Sagittarius. This variable star changes in apparent magnitude from +4.24 to +4.84 with a period of 7.01 days. Its change in brightness is accompanied by a change in spectral classification, from G2 to F5. X Sagittarii - Co-ordinates Equinox 2000. Right ascension 17h47m33.7s Declination −27°49'51" ...

Including:

• X Sagittarii - Co-ordinates Equinox 2000

Read more here: » X Sagittarii: Encyclopedia - X Sagittarii

Zeta Geminorum (ζ Gem / ζ Geminorum) is a star in the constellation Gemini. It also has the traditional name Mekbuda. It is located on the outstretched left "leg" of the twin Pollux. It is a Cepheid variable star and as such has a variable apparent magnitude of +3.7 to +4.2, with period of approximately 10.2 days. The star is approximately 1200 light years from Earth. Mekbuda is a supergiant. The name Mekbuda has roots in ancient Arabic where it and the star Mebsuta (Epsilon Geminorum) were the paws of a lion. Mekbuda come ...

Including:

• Zeta Geminorum - Coordinates equinox 2000

Read more here: » Zeta Geminorum: Encyclopedia - Zeta Geminorum

Beltane or Beltaine (from Irish Beáltaine or Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn; both from Old Irish Beltene, "bright fire" from *belo-te(p)niâ) is an ancient Gaelic holiday celebrated around May 1. "Bealtaine" (pronounced IPA /ˈbʲɑlˠ.t̪ˠə.n̪ʲə/) is the name in modern Irish for the month of May. It is also the traditional first day of summer in Ireland. It is a Cross-quarter day being midpoint in the Sun's progress between the Vernal Equinox an ...

Read more here: » Beltane: Encyclopedia - Beltane

An astrological age is the time taken for the vernal equinox to move through one constellation of the zodiac. Astrological ages occur because of a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. One complete period of this precession is called a Great Year and is about 26,000 years. Astrological age - Overview. The Earth, in addition to its diurnal rotation upon its axis, incurs a precessional motion involving a slow periodic shift of the axis itself: approximately one degree every 70 years. Th ...

Including:

• Astrological age - Overview
• Astrological age - see also

Read more here: » Astrological age: Encyclopedia - Astrological age

Precession refers to a change in the direction of the axis of a rotating object. In physics, there are two types of precession, torque-free and torque-induced, the latter being discussed here in more detail. Specifically, precession may refer to the precession that the Earth experiences or its effects on astronomical observation, or to the precession of orbital objects. Precession - Torque-free precession. Only solid objects can be in torque-free precession. For example, when a plate is thrown, the plate ma ...

Including:

• Precession - Torque-free precession
• Precession - Torque-induced precession
• Precession - The physics of precession
• Precession - Precession of the equinoxes
• Precession - A changing north star
• Precession - Precession of planetary orbits
• Precession - Notes

Read more here: » Precession: Encyclopedia - Precession

Old Irish Lughnasadh (IPA: /luːnəsə/; also spelled Lughnasa; modern Irish Lúnasa; Modern Scots Gaelic, Lunasdal) is a Gaelic holiday celebrated on 1 August, during the time of the harvesting. Lugnasadh was one of the four main festivals of the mediaeval Irish calendar: Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain. Lughnasadh means "Lugh's assembly", representing the last festival of the calendar, dedicated to Lugh, the Sun God of Celtic mythology. Lughnasadh fe ...

Including:

• Lughnasadh - Neopaganism

Read more here: » Lughnasadh: Encyclopedia - Lughnasadh