Vernal Equinox and Equilux - Aligned Sites

Written by Anne Newman 19th/20th March 2019. Updated 2021/23 & 2024

Equinox	This is the moment when the Sun crosses the equator this means that all places on earth effectively receive the same amount of night. It marks the turning point when daylight begins to win out over darkness.
Equilux	Equal day and night—12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. The actual date is known as the equilux (meaning “equal light”) and generally occurs on a different date than the equinox. Because sunset and sunrise times vary with an observer's geographic location (longitude and latitude), the equilux depends on location and does not exist for locations close to the Equator.

check out your location here: latitude gps co-ordinates

Vernal means “new” and “fresh,” and equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).

The Vernal Equinox marks the turning point when daylight begins to win out over darkness. From now until the summer solstice on June 21, the days will gradually get longer because the sun will be higher in the sky, giving more hours of daylight.

More hours of sun means more warming by the sun, so the days will also get warmer. Also the sun's rays will be striking the Northern Hemisphere from a more acute angle, so that the same amount of solar radiation is concentrated in a smaller area, amplifying the heating factor.

If you are standing on the equator at the exact time of the equinox, and the weather conditions are just right, you might find that you cast no shadow. This is because the centre of the sun will be directly overhead.

If you are standing at the North Pole on the spring equinox you will see the sun start to peep over the horizon, signalling the end of six months of darkness and marking the start of six months of daylight. The opposite is true when standing at the South Pole on the spring equinox.

Although popularly described as "the first day of spring" in the Northern Hemisphere, the annual event is actually much more important than that. More than any other event, it marks the beginning of the astronomical year.

Stories have grown up around the equinox. It’s said you can balance an egg vertically on a flat surface, not on other days of the year.

The theory goes that at this time of year the moon and earth are in exactly the right alignment, the celestial bodies generating the perfect balance of forces needed to make it possible. The truth is that the amount of sunlight we get during the day has no power over the gravitational pull of the Earth or our abilities to balance things upon it. If you have the patience and a steady hand then you can balance an egg on it's end any day of the year.

Ireland

• Sunlight illuminates the carved stone inside Cairn T... Loughcrew and Venue Loughcrew
  
• Magic of the Land - Loughcrew Blog
• Dolmen in Kerry Giant’s Grave situated in the valley of Loch an Dúin, Conor Pass, West Kerry.
  
• Grianan Aileach, Donegal.
• Beltany Stone Circles, Donegal Beltany Tops Circle
• Labbacallee Wedge tomb, Cork Equinox Sunset described at Labbacallee
  

"... one of the largest wedge-tombs in the country (if not the largest). There is much folklore attached to it and it gives its name to the townland which when translated into English means Hags Bed. The on-site information board mentions the equinox sun-set alignment and some of the folklore attached to the tomb. The sun does shine into the tomb around the equinox but whether it is intentional or accidental is unclear. However you could argue that due to the monuments large size that this is more a proto-passage tomb than a wedge-tomb. Access wise it is located right beside the road and there is free access to it."

America

Chichenm Itza in Mexico.

The 79-foot pyramid was built by the Mayans about 1000 years ago, outlining the body of Kukukan, a feathered snake god. A serpent-head statue is located at the bottom of the pyramid, and as the sun sets on the day of the equinox, the sunlight and shadow outlines the body of Kukulkan joining with the head.

Cahokia mounds

Cahokia’s Monks Mound and woodhenge ceremonial area have alignment to the spring equinox. Information on Sunrise observance

Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon

Near the top of the Butte are two petroglyph spirals with three large rock slabs positioned near them. The rocks were discovered to direct sunlight onto the spirals, depicting the sun's movement through the year. At spring equinox a display of light is directed on to the smaller snake-like spiral. The dagger is seen on the right of the main spiral.

Asia

AngarWat Cambodia.

On the spring equinox, researchers wrote,

“an observer standing at the southern edge of the first projection on the causeway (just in front of the western entrance gate) can see the sun rise directly over the top of the central tower of Angkor Wat.”

Europe

Malta at the prehistoric Mnajdra Site.

The spring equinox sunrise bisects the entrance to the Lower Temple, shining light through the main passageway and into a small shrine within the complex.

Sweden at the megalithic ‘stone ship’ Ales Stenar site.

Probably erected about 750-700 BC this has been identified as a solar calendar. It seems to mark the solstices and equinoxes working as a huge sun dial. Ales Stones in Southern Sweden

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Anne is sharing a series of events throughout the year - you can find them listed by clicking to the link Other Notable Dates and Festivals.