Don’t miss a thing by getting the Daily Star’s biggest headlines straight to your inbox!

When summer ends and autumn begins, depends on whether you are looking at the meteorological system, or the astrological definition.

According to the meteorological definition, the year is split into four season made up of three months each. These are the same each year.

The autumn season started on September 1 according to the meteorological definition, however, others would argue it starts today.

September 22 2021 is the Autumn equinox – which marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere, according to the astrological definition.

This occurs in September each year, but in 2021 the autumnal equinox will happen at 8.21pm.

What is the autumn equinox?

The autumn equinox marks the moment when the Earth's equator passes directly through the centre of the sun's path.

The sun is titled on its axis, which allows the sun to illuminate the northern or southern hempishere more depending on where the planet is on its orbit.

At two points in the year the sun brightens up both hempisheres equally – these are known as equinoxes.

The word equinox mens "equal night" in Latin, meaning Earth will in theory experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness today.

However, this is complicated slightly because the Earth's atmosphere affects the way we see sunlight.

After the equinox the days will get shorter and the nights will get longer, until the winter solstice.

This is when the pattern reverses.

The equinox happens because of the Earth’s tilt in relation to the sun.

During the summer the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, meaning we get longer days.

In the winter time it is the Southern hemisphere which gets most of the light.

How is the autumn equinox celebrated?

The autumn equinox, also known as Mabon, is a pagan celebration which originated from the Celts.

Celts and Pagans used the autumn equinox to thank Mother Earth and nature for giving them good harvest.

• 

  Picture of gigantic spider shared by Brit council leaves residents terrified

They also prayed to their gods and goddesses that the crop would survive throughout winter.

In honour of the equinox they would feast, light fires, have offerings and sacrifices.

Still to this day Neo-druids gather at Stonehenge to watch the sun rise above the famous stones.

• In the News

Source: Read Full Article