Today is the first day of spring.  Here in Central Texas we'll see a slight chance of rain, but the temperature will be a very comfortable 72.  Other parts of the country will chartreuse with envy as they'll have a tough time believing that it's Spring, you know, under 1 to 2 feet of snow and all.  Normally, growing up, weather was the only thing I cared about on the first day of spring because the word "equinox" always seemed foreign to me, so, like a good American, I ignored it.  But if I just took a little time to examine what Vernal Equinox means, it is pretty cool.  

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Here's some fun facts about the day.

- It usually falls on the 20th or 21st of March.

- If you were standing on the equator during either the vernal or autumnal equinox, you would see the sun pass directly overhead, the only two times in the year when that is true.

- Pay close attention to the sun rise, and sunset today as it's only one of two times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west.  It'll be a perfect time to get a location bearing.

- Since I've never been south of the equator, I have a tough time wrapping my head around this fact.  The vernal equinox signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, but it's  also the autumnal equinox—the first day of autumn—in the Southern Hemisphere.  And, of course, it'll work vice-versa in the fall.

 

Here's a little video display of Vernal Equinox

 

This is also the time of year to try to stand an egg on it's end.

 

 

Enjoy the first day of Spring.

 

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