One of two days during the year when the declination of the Sun is at the equator. The autumnal equinox denotes the first day of the fall season. For the Northern Hemisphere, the date of autumnal equinox on either September 22 or 23 (changes yearly). March 20 or 21 is the date of the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. During the autumnal equinox, all locations on the Earth (except the poles) experience equal (12 hour) day and night.