The vernal equinox happened this morning at 7:44 a.m. EDT, bringing in the official start of spring. The vernal equinox occurs when the sun passes directly over the equator, diving night and day into equal lengths. It is one of two equinox events during the year: The autumnal equinox, or fall equinox, happens in September and marks the start of the fall season for the northern hemisphere.
A Greek astronomer and mathematician named Hipparchus (ca. 190-ca.120 BCE) was known for discovering the precession of the equinoxes. He also compiled a star catalogue, but this has been lost. The astronomical Persian calendar begins its New Year on the day when the March equinox occurs.
And here in Blue Hill, the snow is melting!
