Equinox

: This article is about the astronomical phenomenon. For the Styx album, see Equinox (album). For the SUV by General Motors see Chevrolet Equinox.

Apparent behaviour of the sun

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.

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March equinox

At the North pole the sun passes from a 6-month-long night to a 6-month-long day.

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At the Arctic circle the sun reaches an altitude of 23° in the South.

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At the Tropic of Cancer the sun reaches an altitude of 67° in the South.

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At the equator the sun rises in a vertical line from the East on the horizon to the zenith, and then sets in a vertical line from the zenith to the West on the horizon.

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At the Tropic of Capricorn the sun reaches an altitude of 67° in the North.

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At the Antarctic circle the sun reaches an altitude of 23° in the North.

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At the South pole the sun passes from a 6-month-long day to a 6-month-long night.

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September equinox

At the North pole the sun passes from a 6-month-long day to a 6-month-long night.

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At the Arctic circle the sun reaches an altitude of 23° in the South.

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At the Tropic of Cancer the sun reaches an altitude of 67° in the South.

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At the equator the sun rises in a vertical line from the East on the horizon to the zenith, and then sets in a vertical line from the zenith to the West on the horizon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the Tropic of Capricorn the sun reaches an altitude of 67° in the North.

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At the Antarctic circle the sun reaches an altitude of 23° in the North.

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At the South pole the sun passes from a 6-month-long night to a 6-month-long day.

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