Autumn Is Here

[Woodmonkey]

Autumn Is Here

Summer is finally over and Autumn has descended. The way you can tell this is twofold. The first is the official version. Namely that the passage of one season into another is marked when both the day and the night are of equal length ie 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. These are known as 'equinox's', and there are two of them every year. This year's Autumnal Equinox fell on the 22nd September. So, although you might have been gaily skipping along thinking you have been enjoying the last of the Summer, you have actually been enjoying Autumns first sunshine dance. (Unless you are in Australia of course, where you guys are enjoying the coming of Spring.)

The second way that you can tell it is Autumn (in London at least) is that it starts to rain more often. Now, contrary to popular belief, we really do fine in the UK for weather. In truth if it wasn't for global species destruction, rising sea levels, the melting of icecaps and increased cancer risks from ozone holes, then climate change would have much to commend it. True, it may potentially populate your skin with Basal cell carcinoma (the most common form of Skin Cancer in both the UK and US) because none of that ozone stuff is knocking around to work its magic. But at least you get a nice tan. And that has got to be good. Weather in the UK is really quite good. Not to warm, not too cold, just right. Like Goldilocks porridge without the Bears interfering. Only Autumn does seem to bring the rain. Shame that. Good for plants, not good for people. (Colourful though)

Other good seasonal statistics to fuss about are the longest and shortest days of the year. The longest day of the year ie the one with the most daylight, which marks the Summer Solstice (Solstice derives from Latin and means 'Sun Stands Still') and this year that fell on the 22nd June (You missed it!). At the other end of the spectrum is the Winter Solstice which marks both the shortest day of the year, and also the official start of Winter. This year that falls on the 21st December. The 'Vernal' Equinox marks the start of Spring, and that was on March 20th.

In fact, here are a list of all the dates and times for this year and next, courtesy of the US Naval Observatory, so that you can get suitably excited and prepared for each season. (Maybe buy a jumper?)

Vernal Equinox Mar 20 2004 1:49 AM EST
Summer Solstice Jun 20 2004 8:57 PM EDT
Autumnal Equinox Sep 22 2004 12:30 PM EDT
Winter Solstice Dec 21 2004 7:42 AM EST

Vernal Equinox Mar 20 2005 7:34 AM EST
Summer Solstice Jun 21 2005 2:46 AM EDT
Autumnal Equinox Sep 22 2005 6:23 PM EDT
Winter Solstice Dec 21 2005 1:35 PM EST

You can find all the UK equivalents at the Greenwich Royal Observatory website.

The Source

[Snowden]

Isn't this 2006?

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Isn't this 2006?

Last I checked it was.

I probably should have taken that last part off, but the article is correct.

[USA11B]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Last I checked it was.

I probably should have taken that last part off, but the article is correct.

Autumn may officially be here, my thermometer hasn't recognized it!