Vernal equinox in Oman will begin today
MUSCAT: The vernal equinox in the Sultanate of Oman will begin today, March 20, marking the astronomical commencement of spring, according to the Oman Society for Astronomy and Space.
Astronomical calculations indicate that this year's vernal equinox will occur at 1:07 PM Muscat time. "At this moment, the sun will be positioned directly over the equator. In the Muscat Governorate, the sun will rise at 6:11 AM, reach its zenith at 12:14 PM and set at 6:18 PM. On this day, day and night will be approximately equal in length across most of the world, with the duration of daylight reaching 12 hours, 7 minutes and 24 seconds in Muscat Governorate, Asma bint Salem al Farsiyah, a member of the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space, said.
This phenomenon arises due to the Earth's axis being tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun, resulting in varying levels of solar radiation between the two hemispheres throughout the year.
While the vernal equinox approximates equal day and night, the precise moment of equal day and night for the Sultanate of Oman occurred on March 15. "The vernal equinox typically falls on the 20th, 21st, or 22nd of March, as the calendar year does not perfectly align with the tropical year," Asma said.
Leap days are implemented to realign the calendar with the tropical year. On this day, the sun transitions from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, signifying the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. The sun rises precisely at 90 degrees east and sets precisely west, aiding in directional orientation. At the poles, this marks the beginning of six months of daylight at the North Pole and six months of darkness at the South Pole.
Following the vernal equinox, daylight hours will gradually lengthen until the summer solstice. Spring is traditionally the season for planting, as the ground warms and daylight hours increase, fostering crop growth. The vernal equinox is one of four annual astronomical events that delineate the seasons, alongside the summer solstice, autumnal equinox and winter solstice. These seasonal variations in daylight hours are primarily due to the sun's tilt relative to the equator and geographical latitude. — ONA
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