What is the very first day of fall in 2024?

As September comes close, everyone expects the beautiful time of fall to arrive as soon as possible. When the green trees turn gold, there is something super refreshing about them. It is during this time that the air turns crisp and holds the scent of fallen leaves and woodsmoke. The soft sunlight bathes the landscape in a golden, gentle, flow. It is indeed a breathtaking display when the trees shed their summer greens. This gives the feeling as if Earth itslef is ready for a peaceful rest. It is at the time of fall that it seems as if the world slows down a bit. This further invites us to reflect upon the quiet moments.

Now, the important question is, when is fall going to start this year? Here, we try to answer all the questions about fall and more.

The first day of Fall in 2024

The time of fall is different for different parts of the world. For the north hemisphere, the fall starts in the month of September. On the other side, for the Southern hemisphere, fall begins in the month of March.

Here, we throw light on the exact dates of fall this year.

Fall 2024- The dates

As per the astronomical definition, fall starts with the autumnal equinox. In the case of the Northern Hemisphere, it is the September equinox. On the other hand, for the Southern Hemisphere, it is the equinox in March.

Now, the big question is, what exactly is an equinox?

Understanding the equinox

An equinox is actually an astronomical event that takes place twice  year. It occurs when the plane of the equator of the Earth passes through the center of the Sun. This leads to nearly equal lengths of night and day across the globe.

As said before, there are two equinoxes. The first one is the vernal equinox (spring equinox) which takes place around March 20-23. This proves to be the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and marks the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

The second one is the autumnal equinox (fall equinox). This one occurs around September 22-25. This marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and signals the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the time of an equinox, the Sun stands directly above the equator. The tilt of the axis of the Earth is such that it holds minimal effect on the length of daylight. The balance of day and night makes equinoxes important in various calendars and cultures across the globe.

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The beginning of the seasons

Every season has both meteorological start and an astronomical start.

The meteorological start date is based on the 12-month civil calandar and the annual temperature cycle.

The astronomical start date, on the other hand, is based on the position of the Sun in relation to the Earth.

The start of Fall

As per the astronomical start, fall will begin on September 22 (Sunday), 8:44 A.M. EDT. The meteorological start of fall will take place on September 1, Sunday.

The other seasons

For the year 2024, the dates for other seasons have been as follows

Shortening of days

Apart from the tropical areas, in most areas on the planet, the days get shorter with the start of fall.

At any given area, the day-to-day difference in day length is actually the greatest around the days of the equinoxes. After the fall of equinox, the days still dwindle and get shorter, however, at a decreasubg rate. It on the shortest day of the year, the day-to-day difference touches zeo (winter solstice).

On the other hand, the areas that are closer to the poles actually experience larger day-to-day differences.

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