On the equinoxes, two significant events occur: equal day and night length and the sun's position in the sky.
- Equal Day and Night Length: On the equinoxes, both the spring equinox and the autumn equinox, the day and night are approximately the same length. This means that during these times, the duration of daylight and darkness is almost equal. This happens because the Earth's axis is tilted neither towards nor away from the sun, resulting in equal illumination on both hemispheres.
- Sun's Position in the Sky: During the equinoxes, the sun is positioned directly above the Earth's equator. This means that the sun's rays strike the Earth's surface most directly at the equator, causing the equator to experience the most direct sunlight. As a result, the equinoxes mark the change of seasons, transitioning from winter to spring and from summer to autumn.
To summarise , on the equinoxes, we experience equal day and night length, and the sun is positioned directly above the Earth's equator.