Shorter days ahead as fall officially arrives in Ontario

The leaves began changing colour and temperatures dropped earlier this month, signalling the shift to fall. However, according to astronomy, the official start of autumn is on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Known as the Autumnal Equinox, this event marks the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

The name “equinox” comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), reflecting the balance between daylight and darkness.

During this event, the sun crosses directly over Earth’s equator, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness. This year, it will happen at 8:44 a.m. EDT.

As EarthSky.org notes, while the day and night lengths are close to equal globally, slight variations can occur based on geographic location.

According to NASA.gov, Earth’s tilt—23.5 degrees on its axis—causes periodic shifts in sunlight distribution throughout the year, resulting in the seasons changing.

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The September equinox, in particular, signifies shorter days and cooler weather in the Northern Hemisphere as we move toward winter.

In nature, leaves begin to turn vibrant shades of red, yellow and orange. Birds also migrate, and plants slow down in preparation for winter.

The fall equinox coincides with the Harvest Moon, the full moon nearest to the equinox. Traditionally, its bright light helps farmers complete their harvests before winter frosts set in. This year, the Harvest Moon, one of four supermoons in 2024, also featured a partial eclipse and appeared earlier, on  Sept. 17, adding a spectacular celestial touch to the seasonal transition.

Interestingly, The Farmers’ Almanac says the seasonal shift we associate with fall is not directly caused by immediate weather changes but by the reduction in daylight hours, which triggers a slowdown in photosynthesis in plants.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to pull out your coziest sweater or start decorating your home for fall, now might be just the right time!