Vernal Equinox, AKA Spring!

 

A few days back my husband mentioned that the sunrise and sunset for that day was 7:09.  How could this be?  We all know that spring arrived this year at 11:33 a.m. on March 20, 2022, which is when the sun's rays crossed the equator and all things should be equal.  Spring is the halfway point between the summer solstice and winter solstice. And according to the astronomy books, the Vernal Equinox is the day the angle of the sun is halfway between the lowest point (winter solstice) and the highest point (summer solstice).  After doing some googling, I learned that the unequal day and night has to do with sunrays refracting through the Earth's atmosphere.   

Heaven-to-Betsy, there goes all my equilibrium!  But the good news is that each day will see a little more daylight and warmer temperatures.  Each morning the buds on the tree tops swell a little larger until they burst open with shiny new leaves.  And the ground is littered with beautiful pastel flowers.  Spring has arrived and life is good.