Here in Dougherty, Iowa it is very wet. We got 4.7 inches of rain over night and it is still raining this morning. Looks like it could be an all day rain. Too much water. Everything in the greenhouses are flooded, water going over the road so at some point Larry will have to have 2 sub pumps pumping out the water. It could be worst as our neighboring communities of Greene and Charles City with rivers running thru them are having flooding issues. For all, prayers and hope it quits raining soon. Farmers will not be in the fields here for awhile to start harvesting. So first day of fall what does that mean? ( this is the science teacher in me coming out as I taught elementary science for 3 years)
Why is it Called “Equinox”?
On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world. This is the reason it's called an “equinox”, derived from Latin, meaning "equal night". However, in reality equinoxes don't have exactly 12 hours of daylight
What Happens on the Equinox?
The Earth's axis is always tilted at an angle of about 23.5° in relation to the ecliptic, the imaginary plane created by the Earth's path around the Sun. On any other day of the year, the Earth's axis tilts a little away from or towards the Sun. But on the two equinoxes, the tilt of the Earth's is neither away from nor towards the Sun. In fact, it is perpendicular to the Sun's rays.
So that is why with a sunrise or sunset on the first day of fall the sun will be in the direct west or the direct east sky. If this picture of the sunrise was taken today, the sun would be right directly over the road. Then you know that is the true west or the true east for directions. I will tell you to look at the sunset tonight to see where it will set, but here right now in Iowa we are having lots of clouds, lots of rain and not seeing the sun at all. But if you are somewhere else take a look at where the sun sets tonight as that is the true west sky. Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa