March Equinox in Vatican City (Holy See) ― Date, History, and Details
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History of March Equinox in Vatican City (Holy See) and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. This happens on or around March 20 each year. After the March equinox, the days get longer and the nights get shorter as we head towards summer.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the start of autumn. The Sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south on or around March 20 each year. After the March equinox, the days get shorter and the nights get longer as we head towards winter.
On the day of the equinox, the Sun rises due east and sets due west regardless of latitude. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin for “equal night”. At the equinox, daytime and nighttime are roughly equal everywhere on Earth.
At the Vatican Observatory in Rome, Italy, we celebrate the equinox with a special event called the Equinox Mass. On the morning of the equinox, a priest celebrates Mass using a special liturgy that includes prayers for astronomers and all those who study the heavens. The Mass is followed by a talk on astronomy and a reception.