Final answer:
The equinoxes occur when Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun, with the Sun positioned over the celestial equator, leading to nearly equal lengths of day and night worldwide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equinoxes occur twice a year and describe the point in Earth's orbit where the planet's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. This results in nearly equal day and night lengths for all parts of the world. The correct description of the equinoxes is: 1) The equinoxes occur when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. During the equinoxes, the Sun is on the celestial equator, which means it appears directly above Earth's equator, not favoring either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. These events take place around March 21 and September 22 each year, although the exact date can vary slightly.