Facts: The autumnal equinox I Reach Out Reporter

Teaching overview

On the day of the autumnal equinox, the number of hours of daylight and darkness are equal.
The autumnal equinox is usually on September 22 or 23.
After the autumnal equinox, animals and plants react to the longer nights by preparing for hibernation or shedding their leaves.

1. On the day of the autumnal equinox, the number of hours of daylight and darkness are almost equal.

2. The autumnal equinox usually falls on September 22 or 23, but in 1931 it fell on September 24.

3. The next time the autumnal equinox will fall on September 24 will be in 2303.

4. Animals and plants react to the increasing hours of darkness after the equinox by preparing for hibernation or shedding their leaves.

5. Trees in one acre of forest can shed as much as 2000 kg of leaves during fall. That’s nearly as heavy as two giraffes!

What is the autumnal equinox?
The hours of daylight and darkness are equal on the autumnal equinox. Do you think this will be similar or different to the spring equinox?
Imagine you're an animal preparing to hibernate. How would you get ready?