Sunday, September 23 is the September equinox – the official beginning of the autumn season.
What is an Equinox?
Equinox comes from the Latin word Aequus, meaning “equal” and Nox, meaning “night”. That is why on the day of the equinox, nighttime and daytime are approximately equal in duration – 12 hours – all over the planet. Equinoxes happen two times a year, in September and March. An equinox occurs when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day approximately equal in length all over the earth.
On other ordinary days of the year, either the Southern Hemisphere or the Northern Hemisphere leans a little towards the Sun. However, on the scheduled equinoxes, the sun is visible right above the planet’s equator.
The September Equinox
The September equinox happens exactly when the sun crosses the celestial equator going south. The celestial equator is the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. The exact date on which the September equinox falls varies from the 22nd, the 23rd, and the 24th of the month every year.
On either side of the Equator, the seasons are different from each other, thus, in the Northern Hemisphere, the equinox that happens in September is also called the autumnal (fall) equinox and this marks the first day of fall. The equinox that happens in March, on the other hand, is called the vernal or spring equinox and is considered the official first day of spring.
Although equinoxes are not occurrences which happen all day long, people still celebrate them all day. An equinox happens at the exact moment when the sun crosses the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s Equator, or commonly known as the celestial equator. At this point, the Earth’s axis is directly facing the Sun.
Shorter Time between Moonrises
The Harvest Moon, which is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, is considered to be astronomically special. The reason for this is that around this period, the time it takes from one moonrise to another becomes shorter.
Usually, throughout the year, the moon rises at an average of about 50 minutes later every day. But around the Harvest Moon, the time it takes for the moon to rise between successive rises is lessened to about two-thirds that time for a few days.
During this time of year, the Harvest Moon Effect occurs because the moon orbits around the Earth at a low angle with the horizon. On the other hand, the opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere where it takes more than 50 minutes later for the moon to rise, and longer than on the previous day.
The early moonrise for a few days in the Northern Hemisphere meant an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening that traditionally helped farmers extend harvesting their summer crops in the evening.
Prepare for the Northern Lights
Another wonder happens as the September equinox occurs for those located at high Northern Hemisphere latitudes. This is the frequent display of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights. NASA would say that equinoxes are the peak periods for the northern lights because geomagnetic activities are twice more likely to happen in the spring and fall rather than in the summer or winter.
Why Thermo-Regulating Bamboo?
Autumn is generally the time when people start making preparations for the coming winter months. It starts to get colder, and summer things are put away to make room for warmer trappings. Things like curtains, bedding, clothing and other items used from spring to summer are all packed away and the heavier winter supplies are brought out.
When you have thermo-regulating bamboo, however, there is no need to change everything. Thermo-regulating bamboo can adjust to the seasons. What kept you cool during the summer will keep you warm during the winter.
Thermo-regulating bamboo material has a fiber structure and weave that acts as a temperature equalizer. It helps to release excess heat from the body when you use it in the summer months, and helps the body to retain heat when the air around the body is colder. If you are already using bamboo sheets, pillow cases, mattress toppers, clothing, curtains, sofa covers and other items made from thermo-regulating bamboo fabric, you can continue using them as is begins to get colder. Simply throw on your coat and comforter and perhaps add some drapery and an afghan to your usual living area trappings and you’re all set.