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    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Astronomical spring - The spring equinox has passed

14:46
20 March 2026

Astronomical spring
The spring equinox has passed

Purple crocus flowers emerging from soil beside a garden path, with green grass and shrubs in the background.
Signs of spring at the Oxford Botanic Garden. - © Dina Sikorska

Spring has officially arrived, again, with the passing of the spring equinox Friday afternoon.

At 02:46 pm, the equinox passed, marking the arrival of astronomical spring. Confused? Meteorological spring began on March 1st.

The distinction helps keep each season neatly within a three month cycle, but it's not until the equinox, where the day and night hours are almost equal and the sun directly passes the equator, that spring begins from an astronomical viewpoint.

Ryan Hathaway
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