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Autumnal Equinox

Ahhhh...autumn is approaching. Yes, you heard me. In 2024, fall arrives when the autumnal equinox occurs on Sunday, September 22 at 12:44 p.m. GMT. To learn more about this awesome time of the year, come to Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center the day before on Saturday, September 21, at 10 a.m.

So, what actually happens during the equinox?
At this time, the sun will illuminate the northern and southern hemispheres equally. This is known as the equinox.

There are three main different ways of defining autumn: astronomical, meteorological and phenological.

Astronomically, the four seasons center around the equinoxes and solstices. However, there is disagreement between those who see the equinox or solstice as the start of the season, and those who hold that it represents the middle of the season. By contrast, meteorologists tend to divide seasons into periods of three whole months based on average monthly temperatures, with summer as the warmest and winter as the coldest. On this basis, for most of the northern hemisphere the autumn months are usually September, October, and November. And finally, the third way of defining autumn is to use what are known as phenological indicators. These cover a range of ecological and biological signs, such as the leaves falling off the trees and the migration of birds to warmer climates. These events of course are greatly influenced by weather and climate, and so changing climate could cause autumn to start earlier or later than the standard astronomical or meteorological definitions.
The Harvest Moon is the name given to the full moon that occurs nearest to the autumnal equinox. Historically the light of the Harvest Moon was said to enable farmers to work late into the night, helping them to bring in the crops from the fields. The Harvest Moon usually falls in September. Festivals from many cultures celebrating this time of year have been part of autumn for a long time.

In our equinox program at Jesse Jones Park, we will take a look at animal behaviors, fall customs, and the trappings of the season. Possibly, we may even prepare and sample some autumn treats!