Source-backedVariable Custom

March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere)

The U.S. Naval Observatory publishes target-year equinox instants and explains that equinoxes mark the beginning of spring or autumn depending on hemisphere.

Date / ruleMarch equinox; 20 March 2026 at 14:46 UTC
ScopeAstronomical season boundary / Northern Hemisphere; opposite seasonal meaning in the Southern Hemisphere
VerificationAstronomical Authority Target Year Verified
PortabilityVariable Custom
Evidence statusSource-backed
Last authority check2026-09-09
Target-year policyResolve Authority
Next occurrenceNot projected automatically

This record requires a current target-year source or is intentionally historical.

Authority summary

What is March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere)?

The U.S. Naval Observatory publishes target-year equinox instants and explains that equinoxes mark the beginning of spring or autumn depending on hemisphere.

Date and recurrence

March equinox; 20 March 2026 at 14:46 UTC

The date is source-dependent or variable. A target-year source is required before assigning it to a calendar.

Scope and status

The verified scope stored for this record is Astronomical season boundary / Northern Hemisphere; opposite seasonal meaning in the Southern Hemisphere. The site preserves that boundary and does not infer broader government, global or public-holiday status from the observance name alone.

Also known as

Spring Begins, March Equinox

Classification

Topic and context

Animals, Nature & Environment →
Accuracy controls

What this page does not assume

  • Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
  • Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
  • Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
  • Refresh the target year before publishing a new date when the record is not safely portable.
Provenance

Sources

Source policy →
  1. U.S. Naval Observatory — Earth seasons data serviceAstronomical Government Authority
  2. U.S. Naval Observatory — 2026 seasons calculationAstronomical Government Authority
Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere)?

March equinox; 20 March 2026 at 14:46 UTC The stored recurrence guidance is: Resolve the March equinox instant for the target year and timezone; interpret season by hemisphere.

Does March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere) fall on the same date every year?

It is not safely predictable from a fixed rule; the target year needs a current source.

Is March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere) an official public holiday?

The authority record verifies it within this scope: Astronomical season boundary / Northern Hemisphere; opposite seasonal meaning in the Southern Hemisphere. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.

Who established or recognizes March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere)?

The stored designation basis is: The U.S. Naval Observatory publishes target-year equinox instants and explains that equinoxes mark the beginning of spring or autumn depending on hemisphere.. Supporting provenance includes U.S. Naval Observatory — Earth seasons data service. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.

Is March equinox / astronomical spring begins (Northern Hemisphere) international or country-specific?

No single country is assigned to this record in the authority dataset. The source-defined scope is: Astronomical season boundary / Northern Hemisphere; opposite seasonal meaning in the Southern Hemisphere. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.

How is this page verified?

The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-09.

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