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The 2024 vernal equinox arrives on March 20, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.

The March equinox happened at 7:06 a.m. Yerevan time, marking the beginning of spring for the Northern Hemisphere and the start of fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Earth moves around the sun at an angle, and for most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet, AP reports.

During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.

The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.