First Day Of Spring 2012: Vernal Equinox DATE, TIME (PHOTOS)

Blossoming flowers, warmer temperatures and the promise of new life are all on the horizon as the first day of spring has arrived.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 1:14 a.m. EDT marks the vernal equinox, and official start of spring. But as people in the Northern Hemisphere swap snow shoes for rain boots, those in the Southern Hemisphere will begin preparing for fall.

The vernal equinox and autumnal equinox occur in March and September, respectively. An equinox occurs when the sun shines directly on the equator and, during this time, periods of night and day are nearly equal.

In 2012, spring will last until June 19, but a winter of unseasonably warm weather in some areas might mean trouble in the coming months. Insects, for example, might more plentiful as they haven't had the chance to die off.

The first day of spring also follows the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, which goes into effect on March 11. This year, the autumnal equinox, and official start of fall, will occur on Sept. 22.

Eager for spring? Check out some photos in the slideshow below, and submit some of your own!

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Comments

[Aladdin Sane1]

10:01 PM on 03/20/2012

"Equinox," yeah, 1975 Styx album.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox_(Styx_album)

"Light Up"
"Lorelei"
"Mother Dear"
"Lonely Child"
"Midnight Ride"
"Born for Adventure"
"Prelude 12"
"Suite Madame Blue"

[lglglg]

06:30 PM on 03/20/2012

On the date of the equinox, I balance a box of Eggos on its side.

[PamperedHousecat]

06:22 PM on 03/20/2012

I don't care what the calendar says.
It is 5pm in Chicago and the temp is EIGHTY-FIVE DEGREES!

[Ravikumar Jethani]

12:07 PM on 03/20/2012

I just submitted one of my albums.. can I know what is the process for selection and will they notify me if any of my photos are there?

[sue nuckles]

09:41 AM on 03/20/2012

That is not a shovel! It is a sickle or sometimes called a scythe which is a tool used to harvest grain. You dig a hole with a shovel, you harvest with a sickle/scythe.

[Grandma In Georgia]

11:03 PM on 03/06/2012

This sentence is at the end of the preceding story about FIRST DAY OF SPRING 2012.
I have found an error in the sentence below. The first day of spring DOES NOT precede the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. It's the other way around. Daylight Saving Time PRECEDES the first day of Spring. Daylight Saving Time begins March 11th and the FIRST DAY of Spring is March 20th.

THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE IS THE INCORRECT SENTENCE FROM THE ARTICLE.
"The first day of spring also precedes the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, which goes into effect on March 11."

[joannevlavender]

10:18 AM on 03/03/2012

The first day of Spring, March 21, DOES NOT precede Daylight Savings Time, which is March 11. It is PRECEDED BY Daylight Savings Time.

Another of the crack H-P reporting team shows their ineptitude.

[Grandma In Georgia]

11:02 PM on 03/06/2012

You are SO RIGHT!! I just corrected them on the SAME statement. There are SO WRONG!!

[freedom1947]

10:05 AM on 03/02/2012

Is it already cannabis planting season? How time flies.

[liberalandproud72]

03:33 PM on 03/02/2012

LOL

[Hal May]

01:33 PM on 03/03/2012

Nah not yet, cannabis is a warm season annual, so April at the earliest.

[Frank-Landfield]

09:09 AM on 03/02/2012

WooHoo!!!

[liberalandproud72]

03:30 AM on 03/02/2012

Banana Republic Mad Med Spring Collection? no proof-reading here on Huffpost?