The day that spring begins is called which term?

The day that spring begins is called which term?

• A. Vernal equinox
• B. Winter solstice
• C. Summer solstice
• D. Autumn equinox

Answer: (D)

Spring begins on the vernal equinox, the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north. On that day, day and night are about equal in length. In the Northern Hemisphere this occurs around March 20–21 each year, and from then the days start to get longer as the Sun climbs higher in the sky. The term vernal comes from Latin for spring. The other terms refer to different points in the year: the winter solstice is the shortest day around December 21, the summer solstice is the longest day around June 20–21, and the autumn equinox marks the start of fall around September 22–23, when day and night are equal again.

Spring begins on the vernal equinox, the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north. On that day, day and night are about equal in length. In the Northern Hemisphere this occurs around March 20–21 each year, and from then the days start to get longer as the Sun climbs higher in the sky. The term vernal comes from Latin for spring. The other terms refer to different points in the year: the winter solstice is the shortest day around December 21, the summer solstice is the longest day around June 20–21, and the autumn equinox marks the start of fall around September 22–23, when day and night are equal again.