What is the Autumnal Equinox?

During the summer, the earth is tilted towards the sun so that the most direct sunlight is hitting 23.3 degrees north (Tropic Of Cancer). This gives us our toasty temperatures from June through September.



During the winter, the earth is tilted away from the sun so that the sun's most direct rays are located at 23.3 degrees south (Tropic Of Capricorn).

The Autumnal Equinox is the time when the Earth transitions from tilting towards to tilting away from the sun. It's also on this day that we will see twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night.