The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west
The 2026 September equinox occurs at 00:05 UTC on September 23, 2026. And the equinox sun rises and sets due east and due west. The post The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west first appeared on EarthSky .
The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west on the day of the September equinox in 2026, which is set to occur at 00:05 UTC, or 19:05 CDT on September 22. This phenomenon happens because the Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun. The equinox marks the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator, an imaginary line that divides the celestial sphere into equal northern and southern hemispheres.
As the celestial equator is a great circle intersecting the horizon at due east and due west points, the sun's path across the sky at the equinox aligns with this imaginary line. This results in the sun rising close to due east and setting close to due west for all locations on Earth, except for the North and South Poles. This equalization of day and night during the equinox provides an opportunity to observe and identify cardinal directions using familiar landmarks.
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