March equinox

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/march-equinox

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the axial tilt alignment?Earth's axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun
2. What is the global daylight equality?Approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night worldwide
3. Why does the Sun look the same in the North and South on the equinox?Because Earth's tilt is about 23.5° and is not pointing toward or away from the Sun, the Sun's rays hit the equator straight on, making day and night nearly equal.
4. When does the March equinox usually happen?It usually falls on March 20th, but it can be as early as March 19th or as late as March 21st.

Celestial Equator: The projection of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere, serving as a fundamental reference plane.
Vernal Equinox: The March equinox, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Autumnal Equinox: The September equinox, marking the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sidereal Time: A time scale based on the Earth's rotation relative to the fixed stars, rather than the Sun.