Fall (Equinox) Is on Its Way

Pasadena in the fall

Tired of the hot weather? Soon, Earth’s orbit will lend a hand by tilting the Northern Hemisphere away from the Sun, bringing more indirect sunlight and fewer daylight hours, both of which will help cool things down.

By Scott Phelps

At 11:19 am on Monday, September 22, 2025, the Earth will reach the Autumnal Equinox.

At this moment, neither hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. The Sun will shine directly on Earth’s equator, rising exactly in the East and setting exactly in the West. Everywhere on Earth will experience an equal amount of daylight and nighttime, roughly 12 hours each, thanks to the approximately 24 hours it takes for Earth to complete one rotation on its axis.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the first day of Fall. From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2025, Earth’s orbital motion will gradually tilt the Northern Hemisphere further away from the Sun. This will cause the Sun to appear lower in the sky and the days to grow shorter, leading to less direct sunlight and cooler temperatures.

And of course, pumpkins and other fall traditions aren’t far behind.