What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

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Watch This Interesting Video:

SOLSTICE AND EQUINOX:
Aaaaaaah, the summer solstice. The beginning of summer...or is that the equinox?

Wait, is there even a difference? As it turns out, solstices and equinoxes are sort of opposites.

We know that seasons are caused by Earth having a slight tilt on its axis. As Earth wobbles around the Sun, different points of the Earth receive more or less sunlight throughout the year.

If Earth wasn't tilted, the Sun would just shine directly on the Equator all year long, leaving us without seasons and wrecking everyone’s summer plans.

But we also wouldn’t have solstices or equinoxes. Solstices designate the point where the Sun’s path in the sky is the farthest north or south from the Equator, which occurs around the 20th and 21st of June and the 21st and 22nd of December.

The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer and is the longest day of the year, just as the winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and is the shortest day of the year. But which solstice happens on which day depends on the hemisphere you live in.

In the Northern Hemisphere, summer starts in June, when the Sun is beaming directly over the Tropic of Cancer, while winter starts in December, when the Sun shines down on the Tropic of Capricorn.

This is flipped for the Southern Hemisphere, which is why Australians associate the New Year with summer fun! Alright, so what about equinoxes?

Well that’s simple! The equinoxes are when the Sun is right over the Equator, in between the two Tropics. They occur around March 21st and September 23rd and mark the beginning of spring or autumn.

We call the beginning of spring the vernal equinox, while the beginning of autumn is, conveniently, the autumnal equinox.

Again, which is which depends on the hemisphere, but during both equinoxes, day and night last the same amount of time.

Here’s a handy mnemonic device - equi means equal, and nox means night, which tells you that the day and the night are of equal length. So, at the end of the day, while solstices and equinoxes are related, they happen at different times of the year.

Just remember that solstices are the longest and shortest days of the year, while equinoxes occur when the day and night are equally as long.

Regardless of whether it’s a solstice or an equinox, there’s bound to be a celebration happening somewhere.

[jacopo]

Perfect explanation! Straight to the point, and very clear. Thank you

[Cat-rrey]

I found this at the perfect time since today is an equinox! Loved your video, very informative and fun to look at. :)

[lucendathomasstaff]

My grade 8 class in South Africa really appreciated this, thank you!

[mishishah]

This is the best video I have found while looking on the subject...perfect animations... Thanks so much for the effort u put in making this video ... It is very helpful indeed...👍👍👍

[delwar.hossain]

Short and concise and easy to understand.

[zoe-ryry]

thank you so much I had no idea what my science teacher was talking about when he explained this and I have my test tomorrow this will help a lot!

[ThefamousMrcroissant]

There is something so simple about just fixing the Sun and a straight line projected on the Earth that makes it immediately evident what is going on. Having Equinoxes and Solstices explained through text breaks my brain for some reason.

[cziugzl]

My geography teacher sent a link to this video :> she told us she sent the other classes too!
Great work bro!

[ApekshaVijay-jihk]

very nice explanation video....understood very well!!!😃

[adchayansivakumar]

I’m Grade 8 in Sri Lanka it’s very useful

[sparklegush]

That was so easy to understand and fun to listen to and watch! Thank you!

[liyana]

Thank you so much for this! Really helped me for science

[EngrStar]

I understand this better than the other channels. 💯

[nareshkashyap]

You taught better than our geography teacher.... Thank you so much sir.
You are such a GREAT TEACHER.
Thanks YouTube which recommend me of the perfect video at the most needed time

[reedr]

YouTubers need to learn from your channel on how to make videos. You explain wonderfully, using simple but effective images. And most importantly, minimal words. I see too many videos where entire sentences are blasted on the screen verbatim. If I wanted that, I’d use CC. Excellent job.

[MG]

Well explained. Thank you. Happy Winter Solstice on the 22nd for all you Northern Hemispherians. 😄

[mtndncer]

Great video BUT the days & nights on the equinox are not equal! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, it's close, but the nights & days are NOT equal in length.

[beepp]

Thanks! I couldnt wrap my head around the earth's positions during solstice or equinox. This helped a lot!

[that_person]

You totally saved my ass at geography, keep up the good work!

[hadiyasulfeekar]

Thank you so much for this video... First time commenting on a video.. Really loved it. Good animation and very clear presentation 💯💯