THE EARLIEST SPRING IN MORE THAN 100 YEARS

If you’re calendar-obsessed, you may have noticed something odd about this year’s spring equinox date. That’s right—it’s earlier than usual! But that’s a bit of an understatement.

For much of the last century, the spring equinox has occurred on March 20 or 21. This year, however, the equinox happens on the 19th in all U.S. time zones, making it the earliest spring we’ll have seen in our lives (so far). The last time spring arrived this early was in 1896—a whopping 124 years ago!

 Astronomically speaking, the equinox happens at the same moment worldwide, though our clock times reflect a different time zone. And, as mentioned above, this date only signals spring’s beginning in the Northern Hemisphere; it announces fall’s arrival in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFTER AUGUST 21, 2017, THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

OVER NORTH AMERICA WILL VISIT MEXICO, THE U.S.

AND CANADA ON APRIL 8, 2024

THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN ECLIPSE!