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Equinox & solstice
2026
The astronomical year, broken into its four pivot points. Pick another year:
Friday, 20 March
March equinox
Sunday, 21 June
June solstice
Tuesday, 22 September
September equinox
Monday, 21 December
December solstice
Why these dates matter
An equinox is when day length equals night length almost everywhere on Earth. The sun rises due East and sets due West. A solstice is when the sun reaches its highest (June, Northern Hemisphere) or lowest (December, Northern Hemisphere) point in the sky. These four moments anchor the photographer's year — they tell you exactly how much daylight you have to work with.