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August 29th, 2024
Labor Day is often seen as the unofficial end of summer. Barbecues, picnics, and pool trips abound as people soak up the last rays of sunshine before the cooler months set in. But while Labor Day may mark the end of the summer season for many, the actual astronomical end of summer doesn’t occur until the autumnal equinox.
The autumnal equinox, also known as the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere, is the day when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. This means that the day and night are of approximately equal length. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox is on September 22 this year.
With this being said, the age-old question is, when does summer end? From an astronomical perspective, summer ends on the autumnal equinox. However, the cultural and practical end of summer is often marked by Labor Day or other seasonal events. I say summer ends when football season starts, which happens to be this weekend for many high schools and colleges. Whether you’re celebrating an early fall or holding onto every last second of summer, we hope you have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!
