Articles About Seasons (40)
Defining Seasons
When do seasons begin and end in the two hemispheres?
When Does Fall Start?
North of the equator, fall begins in September. Find out the exact dates for both hemispheres.
December Solstice
December solstice marks the shortest day north of the equator and the longest day in the south.
10 Facts about the September Equinox
10 things you may not know about the September equinox.
June Solstice 2026
The June solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere.
June Solstice Traditions
In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the June solstice is associated with holidays, feasts and celebrations.
March Equinox
At the March equinox, the Sun crosses the equator from south to north. Explanation and 2026 equinox date.
March Equinox Customs
Learn more about the customs, traditions and events surrounding the March equinox.
September Equinox
The Sun shines directly on the Equator on the September equinox and the length of day and night is nearly equal, but not quite.
September Equinox Customs
Folklore, customs, traditions and holidays surrounding the September equinox.
When Does Spring Start?
The first day of spring is at the vernal equinox, when day and night are equal. Find out the exact time and date.
When Does Summer Start?
Find out the exact moment of the summer solstice in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—down to the minute.
10 Facts about the December Solstice
Here are 10 things about the December solstice you might not know.
10 Facts about the March Equinox
On this date, day and night are of almost equal duration around the world.
When Does Winter Start?
The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is in December; south of the equator, it is in June. Find out exactly when the winter season starts.
Earth Is Tilted
When an object the size of Mars crashed into the newly formed planet Earth around 4.5 billion years ago, it knocked it over and left it tilted at an angle.
Earliest Sunset Not on Winter Solstice
Why doesn't the year's earliest sunset occur on the winter solstice, even though it is the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight?
Equinox: Equal Day & Night?
Equinoxes don't have exactly 12 hours of day and night all over the world, like many believe. Such days, called equilux, do occur, but depend on your location.
Equinoxes and Solstices
Equinoxes and solstices are a result of Earth’s tilt and its orbit around the Sun.
10 Facts about the June Solstice
10 things you may not know about the June solstice.
Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun is where the Sun never sets over a period of 24 hours or more. It occurs in polar regions during summer.
What Are Polar Nights?
A Polar Night is a night that lasts for at least 24 hours. It's the opposite of Midnight Sun / Polar Day.
What Causes Seasons on Earth?
Seasons change because Earth's rotational axis tilts away or towards the Sun during the course of a year.
A Year Is Never 365 Days
A tropical year, also known as a solar year, is the time it takes for the seasons to repeat, approximately 365.242189 days.
Zodiacal Light
Also known as false dawn, zodiacal light is a rare optical phenomena that occur around sunset and sunrise in early spring and late fall.
November: Beaver Moon
The Full Moon in November is named after beavers. It is also called Frost Moon and Mourning Moon, depending on the winter solstice.
July: Buck Moon
The Full Moon in July is the Buck Moon. It is also called Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and Wyrt Moon.
December: Cold Moon
The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, the Moon before Yule, Oak Moon, and Wolf Moon.
May: Flower Moon
The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon or Full Flower Moon. Other names include Milk Moon and Hare Moon. What is the meaning behind these names?
September: Harvest and Corn Moon
The September Full Moon can be both the Harvest Moon and the Corn Moon. However, around every three years, the Harvest Moon occurs in October.
Full Moon Names
Ancient cultures gave names to the Full Moon. These names are still in use today.
When Is the Harvest Moon 2025?
The Harvest Moon varies between September or October in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the Full Moon nearest the autumnal (fall) equinox.
April: Pink Moon
The Pink Moon is the Full Moon in April. It is also called Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon, Awakening Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon. When is the Pink Moon?
February: Snow Moon
The February Full Moon is named after the snow on the ground. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others call it the Storm Moon.
June: Strawberry Moon
What is a Strawberry Moon, a.k.a. Rose Moon? When is the Strawberry Full Moon in 2026, why does it happen in June, and how did it get its name?
August: Sturgeon Moon
The Full Moon in August is called the Sturgeon Moon, named after North America's largest fish. Find out why as well as other names for this Moon.
January: Wolf Moon
January’s Full Moon is named after howling wolves. In some cultures, it's known as the Quiet Moon, Severe Moon, and the Moon after Yule.
99% of Earthlings See Sunlight on July 8 (And on Other Dates, Too)
Our Sun data confirm an internet meme claiming 99% of the world’s population gets sunlight at 11:15 UTC on July 8. But does it happen on other dates, too?
99% Of Us See Daylight at This Moment (Or Do We?)
Is it really true that 99% of the world's population see daylight at 11:15 UTC on July 8?
Dec 6: Minute of Global Darkness
There's a moment each year when almost 9 in 10 people worldwide experience night.