Last September, we did not have have these cooler temperatures, frequent rain, and overcast skies, which have given this month a ‘fall-like’ feel. While meteorological fall already began three weeks ago, the autumnal equinox occurs Friday at 5:04 a.m. (EDT), signaling the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.
Besides ushering in a new season, the fall equinox marks the time at which the sun shines directly overhead at the equator. Until the upcoming winter solstice in December, the sun will continue its southward migration towards the Tropic of Capricorn, bringing us increasingly shorter days and a lower sun angle in the months ahead.
In NYC the equinox sun will rise around 6:56 a.m. and set about 7:07 p.m. It is one of only two days of the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west of us. For the next three months, the sun will rise and set increasingly to our southeast and southwest respectively.