When does fall begin in the Northern Hemisphere? Whereas a meteorologist might tell you Sept. 1, the beginning of meteorological fall, an astronomer will inform you that seasons pivot on solstices and equinoxes — waymarkers of Earth's journey around the sun that change where, and for how long, sunlight strikes the planet.
This year, the autumn equinox occurs on Monday, Sept. 22 at 2:19 p.m. EDT (18:19 UTC), according to Time and Date, and it brings roughly equal day and equal night to the entire planet. North of the equator, it's been summer, with more daylight than darkness, so September's equinox marks the first day of fall; south of the equator, it's been winter, with more darkness than daylight, so the equinox brings spring.
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