*** Happy VERNAL EQUINOX *** Mar 20 2010 - 1:32 PM EDT ***

[L. Coyote]

Only two hours until Spring, the moment a center-on-center line from the earth to the sun transects our equator, making day and night "equal."

Vernal Equinox Mar 20 2010 1:32 PM EDT
Summer Solstice Jun 21 2010 7:28 AM EDT
Autumnal Equinox Sep 22 2010 11:09 PM EDT
Winter Solstice Dec 21 2010 6:38 PM EST
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/equinox.html

One question, is Vernal Equinox a misnomer?
What would this moment be called if a scientist had to name it?

Next question, Do you observe astronomical moments? How?

[Xipe Totec]

1. Magnolia buds are popping open

This was taken at 11:00 AM


Let's see what they look like at 1:32PM...

[L. Coyote]

2. That is a GREAT image!

Yes, here in the PNW the daffodils are quite showy just now, and I saw some purple azaleas already. Driving the Oregon Coast mountains yesterday was a delight, very green understory with green hints budding from the trees.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Gorgeous. I'm going to remember this and next year on this day I'm going

to wear delicate pink and grey. God willing.

I'm impressed. Thanks.

[FarCenter]

3. The tree pollen count is up in the mid-Atlantic

After the warm days of the last week.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. I wouldn't call it a misnomer.

The word "vernal" comes from the Latin "vernalis", which came from "ver" meaning Spring. Since scientists use Latin to name things, it is unlikely that scientists would change it.

[L. Coyote]

6. I was thinking about the combination of terms

day and night being equal is a rather fuzzy matter, since the light doesn't actually go on and off.

The scientific, geometric actuality is simply a nodal crossing of the equator by a center-on-center line.

"Happy Nodal Crossing of the Equator by the Center-On-Center Line." NOT! Too much of a mouthful, that! :rofl:

[LuvNewcastle]

7. lol! Now I see what you meant.

A lot of us are still living in the Middle Ages. All we know is that Springtime is when the weather turns warm and Fall is when it begins to cool. That highfalutin fancy talk about Nodal Crossings makes our eyes cross.:)

[L. Coyote]

8. This requires further reflection, if we are to get out of the Middle Ages someday

The sun DOES NOT come up! The sun DOES NOT come up! Remember, the world turns.
The sun DOES NOT come up! The sun DOES NOT come up! Remember, the world turns.

I keep repeating this, and it still seems to "come up."
This linguistic adjustment is going to take a while, maybe a few thousand year. :rofl:

[LuvNewcastle]

9. Vonnegut said in one of his books

that we're still in the Middle Ages. He was mostly talking about the way we treat each other and about and some of our backward beliefs, but your point illustrates it as well.

[uppityperson]

10. HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

[cilla4progress]

11. Happy OSTARA!

Daylight has continued to grow since the Winter Solstice, to the point where there is as much daylight as darkness in a day: light and dark are in perfect balance on this day, and won't be again until the Fall Equinox in September. This day, the beginning of the light half of the year, is a time to celebrate balance and the arrival of Spring. Its position on the Wheel of the Year is in the East, representing new beginnings.

Maybe prophetic? Pagans know what we're talking about!

[L. Coyote]

12. I should add, Enjoy the Fall colors in Argentina and Australia.

to not be myopic and think my half of the world is the only half.
Or worse still, that the world is flat and it is Spring everywhere. To be clear, I know better. :rofl:

[AwakeAtLast]

13. Not a moment too soon

My azaleas didn't even bloom last year, this year I can already see very tiny buds on them.