EQUINOXES

(from Lat. oequus, equal and noz, night) are the two days in the year, March 21 and Sept. 22 when the days are’equal to the nights all over the. world. Owing to the inclination of the axis, on which the earth rotates, as it journeys round the sun, the portion of its surface which is lightened by the sun’s rays, the circle of illumination that is, varies, but at the E. tho sun apparently describes the equatorial circle and exactly: half of each parallel is ilu-. minated, At the vernal E. (in March). the. sun. pa es from 8. to N., whi results. in the days lengthening in the northern hemisphere, and from N, to 8. in the-autumnal, when the days shorten.