Fall equinox marks transition of seasons

The fall equinox marks a celestial event where day and night are of nearly equal length. In the Northern Hemisphere, this signifies the beginning of autumn, while the Southern Hemisphere enters spring. The phenomenon occurs when the Earth's tilt is neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in the sun being directly overhead at the equator.

During an equinox, the sun rises almost exactly due east and sets almost exactly due west. This differs from the solstices, which occur when the Earth's tilt is at its most extreme, creating the greatest disparity between daylight and darkness. Various cultures observe these transitions, such as public holidays in Japan or ceremonial gatherings at Mayan sites like Chichen Itza.