Aracaria Biodynamic Farm, about Seasons, Solstices and Equinoxes

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	THE SEASONS The Earth travels around the Sun on an elliptic orbit. Even though the Earth is closer to the Sun at times it is the AMOUNT (in hours) and the CONCENTRATION (in watts per area) that, in combination with the tilt of the Earth's axis, that determines the seasons. The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted by 23.5 degrees from the vertical axis with respect to its orbit of the Sun. As it spins (causing day and night) and orbits, the North-South axis points gradually away from the Sun. This results in WINTER and toward the Sun which results in SUMMER. This gradual, daily change determines how many hours of daylight and darkness is received at different locations and at different seasons. In the Southern Hemisphere, approaching the Winter Solstice, the daylight hours are short and the weather is cold. Earth's North-South axis is pointed away from the Sun which rises late, travels a low path across the sky, and sets early. The average energy per square foot per day is low compared with the summers. The two hemispheres take turns reaching their maximum tilt toward the Sun, which occurs at the SOLSTICES. The EQUINOXES mark the point of the Earth's orbit when both hemispheres equally face the Sun.

SOLSTICE
The SUMMER SOLSTICE is the first day of the season of Summer.
On this day, (December 22 in the southern hemisphere and June 21 in the northern hemisphere) the Sun is furthest north and the length of time between sunrise and sunset makes for the longest day in the year.
The WINTER SOLSTICE is the first day of the season of Winter.
On this day ( June 21 in the southern hemisphere and December 22 in the northern hemisphere) the Sun is furthest south and the length of time between sunrise and sunset makes for the shortest day.

EQUINOX
The first Equinox occurs on March 20 (March 21 in some years) at precisely 1:49 a.m. EST (06:49 Universal Time). This is when the Sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator. For the Northern Hemisphere this moment is known as the Vernal Equinox (vernal = spring). For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the Autumnal Equinox.
The word EQUINOX means ''equal night''(equi = equal; nox = night). As the Sun is positioned in line with the equator day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes.
A second equinox occurs each year on September 22 (September 23 in some years)at 12:30 p.m. EDT (16:30 UT). For the Northen Hemisphere this will be the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.

Orrery showing Vernal Equinox, the Sun (S) over the Equator, the Moon (M) new and in apogee, and Venus (V) at superior conjunction. E = Earth.

Orrery = A mechanical model of the solar system.
Vernal = 1. Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring.
2. Characteristic of or resembling spring.
3. Fresh and young; youthful.
Equinox = 1. Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.
2. Either of the two times during a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the length of day and night are approximately equal; the vernal equinox or the autumnal equinox.
Apogee = 1. The point in the orbit of the moon or of an artificial satellite most distant from the center of the Earth. 2. The point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited.
Superior Conjunction = The position of a celestial body when it is on the opposite side of the sun from Earth.