NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Soon after noon — 12:15 p.m. to be almost exact — the earth will be positioning itself in such a fashion that the length of night and day will be almost equal across the globe. Most fortunately for us, that means we move into spring, despite the snow and winter-like temperatures. 

The Spring, or Vernal, Equinox occurs this year today, March 20, and signals our midpoint march toward much longer days and shorter nights. Meanwhile, it is the Autumnal Equinox for those on the other side of the equator, as folks there descend into winter. It is called equinox (Latin for equal night) because day and night are almost of equal length, a phenomenon that occurs twice a year, now and again in September. It is all resulting from the way the earth circles the sun, and tilts in that revolution.

Astronomists point out, however, that the Spring Equinox is a purely astronomical event and does not necessarily mean that Maine will immediately warm up.... Yes, we knew that.

The U.S. Navy is even more particular: "Day and night are not exactly of equal length at the time of the March and September equinoxes. The dates on which day and night are each 12 hours occur a few days before and after the equinoxes. The specific dates of this occurrence are different for different latitudes.... For observers within a couple of degrees of the equator, the period from sunrise to sunset is always several minutes longer than the night. At higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere, the date of equal day and night occurs before the March equinox."

On the Spring Equinox the sun rises exactly in the east, travels through the sky for 12 hours, and sets exactly in the west. On the equinox this is the motion of the sun through the sky for everyone on earth.

What’s a little ice and snow, anyhow? It's a good time to celebrate, as the days get longer and we keep an ear out for the peepers. Welcome, spring!