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Birthday · March 20, 2022

A Picturesque Equinox Sunset

March 20, 2022

When you were born, the Sun rose on a world that had never seen you before. Since then, every dawn has arrived in a universe subtly altered...

A Picturesque Equinox Sunset

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APOD published March 20, 2022. Credit: Roland Christen. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

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A Picturesque Equinox Sunset

Original APOD · March 20, 2022

What's that at the end of the road? The Sun. Many towns have roads that run east - west, and on two days each year, the Sun rises and sets right down the middle. Today is one of those days: an equinox. Not only is today a day of equal night ("aequus"-"nox") and day time, but also a day when the sun rises precisely to the east and sets due west. Featured here is a picturesque road in northwest Illinois, USA that runs approximately east -west. The image was taken during the March Equinox of 2015, and shows the Sun down the road at sunset. In many cultures, this March equinox is taken to be the first day of a season, typically spring in Earth's northern hemisphere, and autumn in the south. Does your favorite street run east - west? Tonight, at sunset, you can find out with a quick glance.

Image credit: Roland Christen

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