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The autumnal equinox is coming. Between myth and science «3B Meteo

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In a few days, the autumnal equinox
In a few days, the autumnal equinox

The meteorological summer is slowly coming to an end, while at the end of the astronomical summer we must wait another month or so. It will end with arrivalThe autumnal equinox will be held this year on September 23 at 03:04 in Italy.

Today equals night? At that exact moment the Sun will cross the plane of the equator perpendicularly or, in other words,The sun is at the height of the equator. The term “equinox” is derived from Latin meaning “equal night” (to the day) and as it happens at the vernal equinox, the diurnal period is the same as the night period. To be precise, due to the effects of atmospheric refraction as well as radius and solar parallax, they mean that the length of the day at the equinoxes exceeds the length of the night. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox generally falls between September 22 or 23 Rarely is it on September 24 or 21.

THE SUN IN THE EQUINOX – On the equinoxes the sun rises almost completely in the east and sets almost completely in the west, while it is at its zenith at noon. To be precise, the sun rises at the equator in a vertical circle from the eastern horizon to the apex and then falls in a vertical circle from the apex to the western horizon; At the Tropic of Cancer, the sun passes south, reaching its maximum height on that day of 66 degrees 33 minutes; In the Tropic of Capricorn, the Sun passes north, reaching its maximum high on that day of 66 degrees 33 minutes, while at the North Pole the Sun passes 6 to 6 months at night (or vice versa). The autumnal equinox also marks the transition to a period of lower light. From that moment until the winter solstice (December 21, 2022), the hours of light will decrease as the period of night prevails over the day. From an astrological point of view, the Sun enters Libra, a sign of balance.

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Myths and Traditions- This moment has always been a special event in antiquity, when the forces of light and dark were in perfect balance. For many cultures, the autumnal equinox is a day of celebration. The Romans, for example, held a party dedicated to Pomona, the goddess of fruits and developing things, while in ancient Greek mythology the beginning of autumn was closely connected with the story of the abduction of Persephone (Great Elocene Mysteries), a goddess who was abducted by her mother, the goddess of the harvest Demeter, and taken to the underworld to become the wife of Hades, king of the god of the underworld. The oldest inhabitants attributed the name Mapon to the autumnal equinox: the young deity of plants and crops.

In the priest tradition The autumnal equinox was called the Alban Elfed (autumn, or “Elued”, water light). The second harvest festival marked the end of the harvest season, just as Gannasad had begun.

In Japan, the autumnal equinox is celebrated with the Buddhist traditions of Heigan, a moment to remember deceased relatives, as well as to celebrate the passing of seasons; In China and Vietnam during the nights of the full moon, the Moon Festival is celebrated, which celebrates the summer harvest and is a typical dessert based on lotus, sesame seeds, duck eggs or dried fruit. In India, Hindus celebrate Navaratri, a multi-day festival in September and October to honor the female deity Devi (Durga). In the ancient Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico, the stones were arranged according to the movement of the sun and during the equinoxes they light up directly on the equator to form a path resembling a huge “sunlight serpent” that crawls along. Staircase.

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Wynne Dinwiddie
Wynne Dinwiddie
"Infuriatingly humble alcohol fanatic. Unapologetic beer practitioner. Analyst."
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