Australia Equinox and Solstice Dates
An equinox is one of two days in the year when the sun crosses the equator and day and night become equal in length. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring, while the autumnal equinox marks the beginning of autumn.
A solstice is the day when the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky. The summer solstice signals the beginning of astronomical summer and the winter solstice signals the beginning of winter. Perhaps most importantly though, the solstices mark the longest and shortest day of the year.
The equinoxes and solstices are important astronomical events that have been celebrated by cultures around the world for centuries. They herald the changing of the seasons and the beginning of new cycles of life.
2024 Equinoxes and Solstices for Canberra
| Year | March Fall/Autumn Equinox | June Winter Solstice | September Spring/Vernal Equinox | December Summer Solstice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 22nd Sep | 21st Dec |
| 2021 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2022 | 21st Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2023 | 21st Mar | 22nd Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2024 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 22nd Sep | 21st Dec |
| 2025 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2026 | 21st Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2027 | 21st Mar | 22nd Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2028 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 22nd Sep | 21st Dec |
| 2029 | 20th Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
| 2030 | 21st Mar | 21st Jun | 23rd Sep | 22nd Dec |
Vernal / Spring Equinox 2024
The Spring or Vernal Equinox marks the astronomical first day of spring. It is also the point in the calendar where the day length is more or less equal to the length of the night. In fact the word equinox is taken from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) or "equal night".
It is around this time of year that the clocks go forward making the evenings stay light and marking the beginning of summer time.
Mid-Summer Solstice 2024
The Summer Solstice is also known as the longest day, which is perhaps the most notable feature. This is the first day of Astronomical Summer and occurs as the sun reaches its most northerly or southerly path in the sky.
Autumn / Fall Equinox 2024
The Autumn or Fall Equinox signals the end of Summer on the astronomical calendar. As with the Spring Equinox this is a point of seasonal equilibrium with days and nights being almost exactly 12 hours long each.
It is also only a few weeks from this time that the clocks go back marking the beginning of summer time and making the evenings draw in.
Winter Solstice 2024
The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year after which the days begin to get longer and the nights get shorter. This makes it both a time of celebration and reflection: a time to celebrate the return of the Sun and the promise of longer days ahead but also a time to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the year ahead.
The winter solstice is also a time of astronomical significance and marks the beginning of Astronomical Winter. It is the day when the Earth's axis is tilted the most away from the Sun. This means that the Sun appears to be at its lowest point in the sky. After the winter solstice, the Earth's axis begins to tilt back towards the Sun, and the days start to get longer.