The Vernal Equinox

The Vernal Equinox
Spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20, 2012, at 1:14 A.M. (EDT). On the first day of spring—the vernal equinox—day and night are each approximately 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days before the vernal equinox). The Sun crosses the celestial equator going northward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west. Check out http://www.almanac.com for more information about the Vernal Equinox.