Colin Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 On my calendar, March 20 is marked as the vernal equinox. Does that make it the last day of winter, or the first day of spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rock Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Both. March 19th is the last full day of winter, March 21st is the first full day of spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 So if you climb on the 20th, do you turn into a pumpkin the minute the equinox occurs? I know why you care, Colin. The 20th falls on a Saturday. You're planning a first winter ascent on that day, aren't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lummox Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 On my calendar, March 20 is marked as the vernal equinox. Does that make it the last day of winter, or the first day of spring? if you are so tied into the whole julian thing with its overreaching patriarchal vibe then it is still winter for you on march 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 (edited) Beware the Ides of March (3/15). Â Speaking of winter, anybody know what happened today with ol' Punxsutawney Phil? Â Never mind. I found the answer here. Edited February 2, 2004 by sobo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 technically, winter ends at the EXACT MOMENT the sun "crosses the equator" (you technically fixated types can understand what I really mean is the moment when sunlight incident on the equator is exactly perpendicular to the ground surface with neither north or south tilt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 now you're sounding like CBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 now you're sounding like CBS "It's a good thing. " -Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 ALL I know is I could smell spring in the air this morning AND it was light when I left for work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman_Clyde Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 The most precise definition of the equinox is the moment when the sun crosses a fixed point in the celestial sphere (i.e. the imaginary sphere surrounding the earth) corresponding to zero degrees celestial latitude. On most of the earth, this will not happen at noon, and on half of the earth, it will happen at night. Ancient peoples could fix these celestial events to within a day, which ought to be precise enough for most of us-- but in the chronically sunlight-deprived state I've lived in ever since settling in the Northwest, I find consolation in knowing the exact moment of these events, especially the solstices. (June 20th at 5:57 pm this year, if I remember right.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 ALL I know is I could smell spring in the air this morning AND it was light when I left for work  it was snowing in the morning when i left for work but it was light cause i didnt leave for work till 9:30AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk Posted February 4, 2004 Share Posted February 4, 2004 I left at 7 and could see well enough ti unlock my car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.