2024-03-19 03:10:46
By: Michel Olguin Lacunza-UNAM Global
Next March 19 at 9:04 p.m. Central Mexico, the Sun will align directly over the Equator, marking a perfect balance between day and night, with an equal number of hours of light and darkness. This phenomenon, known as the equinox, occurs twice a year: in spring and autumn.
It is interesting to note that, during spring, the Earth is further away from the Sun. However, thanks to its axial tilt, Mexico and other regions receive a greater amount of sunlight. On the contrary, in winter, despite being closer to the sun, the tilt of the Earth reduces the amount of light we receive.
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From the spring equinox, the length of the night begins to gradually decrease, giving rise to longer and brighter days. This process is reversed with the arrival of the autumn equinox, when the nights lengthen until they reach their peak during the winter solstice.
Why do these natural phenomena occur?
Equinoxes occur due to the tilting of the planets’ axes of rotation as they orbit the Sun. Not all planets experience these phenomena in the same way. For example, Mercury and Jupiter have nearly vertical axes of rotation, resulting in days and nights of similar length on Jupiter, while Uranus, with its extreme tilt, experiences drastic changes in its seasons.
On Earth and Mars, with their axes tilted by approximately 23 degrees, this tilt is responsible for seasonal variations. This means that, depending on the time of year, one hemisphere will receive more sunlight than the other, resulting in changes in the length of days and nights.
The Mayans and their relationship with the stars
The Mayan civilization had a deep knowledge of seasonal and astronomical changes, captured in their codices and astronomical observations. Their architectural structures reflect this wisdom, with specific alignments to indicate the equinoxes, as is the case of the ball game.
A notable example is the pyramid of Kukulkan in Chichén Itzá, where, during the equinox, the play of light and shadow creates the illusion of a snake descending its stairs. This phenomenon occurs in both spring and autumn, highlighting the importance of these days in the Mayan calendar.
Finally, it is important to mention the recommendation of Julieta Fierro, a Mexican astronomer and scientific communicator, who advises against visiting archaeological sites on these dates. Although they are significant moments, there is no special energy that is manifested, and the excessive influx of visitors can contribute to the deterioration of these important historical sites.
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