Equinox#Names

The vernal equinox ( Aries also point) is in astronomy, the point of intersection of the celestial equator with the ecliptic called, at which the sun in early spring in the northern hemisphere ( = beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere ) is. The second point of intersection of the celestial equator with the ecliptic is called the fall point.

On 20 or 21 March, rarely also on 19 March (see the beginning of spring ) reaches the sun from the south, the spring equinox; the fall point they reached, coming from the north, on September 22 or 23 of each year.

If the sun is in the Spring and Autumn period, so it comes down to the earth at the Equinox ( equinox ). Spring and Autumn period are therefore also referred to as Äquinoktialpunkte or equinoxes.

The vernal equinox is an important point of reference in astronomy, especially in the equatorial coordinate system.

The alternate name Aries point comes from the fact that at the time of its initial determination of the vernal equinox in the constellation Aries was. Due to the precession it is today in the constellation Pisces. ( See also: cycle of precession. )