Citizens to experience equal day and night on March 20

Aurangabad, March 19:

March 20 will be a special day for astronomers and sky gazers as 'Vernal Equinox' will take place on Saturday. The length of day and night is approximately equal on this day as the Sun is exactly above the Equator leading to the phenomenon. Citizens will be able to experience twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. Vernal Equinox sunrise will take place at 6:25 am

Giving more information, astronomer Pravin Garge said, the astronomical reason behind the day and night being equal is that since the Sun reaches the equator right on Saturday the day and night will be the same all over the earth on this day, i.e. twelve hours a day and twelve hours night. This day is called Vernal Equinox in astronomy and Vasant Sampat locally. The equinox occurs twice a year in March to mark the starting of the spring season and in September to mark the beginning of the fall season. This celestial event takes place when the Sun passes the equator moving from the southern to the northern hemisphere. On average, this could occur between March 19 to 21 every year. The length of day and night is approximately equal on this day, hence the name equinox translates to equal night in Latin. Garge appealed that all astronomers and sky gazers must experience the equal day and night on Saturday and measure the time.