Autumnal Equinox 2022 – Sunset
Join us at sunset to mark the start of autumn!
Upcoming Equinox and Solstice Events at Griffith Observatory
Autumnal Equinox - Sunset
Griffith Observatory marks the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere with a public talk focused on the location of the setting Sun on the western horizon. Observatory staff will discuss the meaning of the equinox and how the Sun’s changing path across the sky causes seasonal changes.
This year the equinox occurs at 6:04 p.m., PDT, and sunset is at 6:50 p.m., PDT. We will not be conducting online events for this equinox.
Seasons
Autumn begins in Earth’s northern hemisphere at 6:04 p.m., PDT, today. Spring begins in the southern hemisphere at the same time. The September/autumnal equinox is the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator (the projection of Earth’s equator into space) from north to south. From the autumnal equinox until the start of winter – the winter solstice in December – days will get shorter, and the noon elevation of the Sun will decrease. This happens because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23½ degrees to its orbit. Day and night are of equal length today.
What Is Autumn?
From the autumnal equinox until the start of winter – the winter solstice in December – days will get shorter, and the noon elevation of the Sun will decrease. This happens because the Earth’s axis is tilted 23½ degrees to its orbit. Day and night are of equal length on September 22.
