Equilux marks the perfect balance of day and night

The equilux – when day and night reach a perfect balance of 12 hours each – takes place on Monday.

The little-known event takes place a few days before the spring equinox, the date of which is determined by the Earth’s tilt on its axis as it travels around the Sun. In fact, there is 10 minutes more daylight on the equinox.

A location’s equilux dates depend on the latitude. For Ireland, the perfect day and night balance occurs on St. Patrick’s Day.

This year’s spring equinox, which marks the start of astronomical spring, is on Thursday (20 March) at 9:01am Irish time.

The equinox occurs at the same moment wherever you may be on the planet. For those south of the equator, where the seasons are reversed, the event will mark the first day of autumn.