Vernal equinox to bring nearly equal day and night on March 20 — PAGASA
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The March equinox will occur on Friday, March 20, bringing nearly equal lengths of day and night across the globe, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Also known as the vernal equinox, the event marks the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere.
PAGASA said the equinox happens when the Sun is positioned directly above the Earth’s equator, resulting in almost equal daylight and darkness across the world.
In the Philippines, the Sun is expected to rise at 6:01 a.m. and set at 6:07 p.m. on the day of the equinox, or about 12 hours and 6 minutes of daylight.
During this time, the Sun rises due east and sets due west, a phenomenon that occurs only twice a year, during the equinoxes.
PAGASA added that the equinox will take place at exactly 10:46 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time), referring to the precise moment when the Sun crosses the equator.