Head of the Department of Astronomy at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics Ashraf Tadras said that the spring will begin next Saturday on 21 March, and that it will last 92 days, 17 hours and 53 minutes this year.
"Egypt and the rest of the northern hemisphere will witness the vernal equinox after midnight on Saturday with 46 minutes, marking the beginning of spring astronomically," Tadras said Monday.
The sun's rays will be perfectly perpendicular to the equator. The sun will rise from the east side completely, and set from the west side completely, he added. The phenomenon will be an opportunity to determine the geographical directions accurately due to equal length of day and night.
On this day the sun rises for the first time in six months in the Arctic, and the sun rises for the first time six months ago in the North Pole, and sets for the first time in six months in the south pole. Day will continue for six months in north pole and night for six months in the South Pole.
After this day, the sun will rise from the east with a small deviation to the north at a rate of a quarter degree a day, leading to an increase in the length of daylight gradually until it reaches its peak next 21 June, according to Tadras.
Spring comes after the end of the winter season, which was characterized this year with being the shortest seasons of the year. According to astronomical calculations, winter lasted 88 days and 23 hours and 42 minutes. Winter weather temperatures were relatively moderate this year, he said.
Spring will be characterized by unstable weather as a result of the warm air blowing from near the equator areas in conjunction with the continuation of the next cold air blowing from the polar regions.
Spring is characterized in general by unstable weather and large temperature differences in large parts of the world.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
