Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

Science

The druid, the weather presenter and the astronomer - when does autumn start?

Why are there three different dates for the start of autumn and who follows which date?

The druid, the weather presenter and the astronomer - when does autumn start?

Autumn begins on September 23 according to the astronomical calendar. This calendar, based on Earth's position in relation to the sun, marks the start with two solstices and two equinoxes. In contrast, the meteorological calendar officially starts autumn on September 1, while the ancient Celtic calendar considers it began on August 1.

The debate over which calendar to follow reflects personal preference, as each has its own significance and traditions. Druids, astronomers, and meteorologists each have their reasons for observing autumn differently, underscoring the cultural and scientific importance of seasonal change.

Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at bbc.co.uk →

More in Science

More from Monday 31 August →