The Autumn Equinox marks the start of the astronomical season of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere when the Earth’s equator passes through the centre of the Sun’s warm rays.
The equinox always falls on one day between September 22 and September 24 without fail.
This year, the UK will wave one last goodbye to summer on Sunday, September 23,
The specific date of the equinox is dictated by the Earth’s irregular orbit around the Sun through space and it will happen at different times in different time zones.
What time is the Autumn Equinox tomorrow?
Here in the UK, you will be better off staying in bed rather than getting up to welcome autumn, because the equinox will take place just before 3am BST on Sunday morning.
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Astronomers expect the September Equinox to peak at 2.54am BST.
But if you live in Mumbai for instance, the equinox will take place on Sunday at 7.24am IST.
Further down in Melbourne, Australia, the equinox will happen at 11.54am AEST and at 9.54am AWST in Perth.
Autumn Equinox 2018: The September Equinox falls on Sunday, September 23 this year (Image: GETTY)
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the United States, the equinox will actually take place tonight at 9.54pm EDT.
In California, on the West Coast, the equinox takes place tonight at 6.54pm PDT.
In Tokyo, Japan, the equinox will happen on Sunday at 10.54am JST and if you live in Hong Kong, the equinox peaks at 9.54am HKT.
Read more: Autumn Equinox 2018 astrology: What is tomorrow’s September Equinox horoscope?
What is the Autumn Equinox?
The start of autumn and spring each year is dictated by the Earth’s so-called axial tilt towards the face of the Sun – about 23.4 degrees.
Autumn Equinox 2018 what time September equinox date
On any given day of the year, the Southern Hemisphere or Northern Hemisphere is slightly tilted towards the Sun.
But twice a year, during the spring and autumn equinox, the Earth’s tilt is perpendicular to the Sun.
Tom Kerss, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained: “At this moment neither hemisphere is ‘leaning’ towards the Sun, but after the 23rd, the Northern Hemisphere will begin to point away from the Sun, bringing ever longer nights and shorter days.
Autumn Equinox 2018: The equinox marks the astronomical start of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere (Image: GETTY)
“Astronomers consider this moment the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and thus the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.”
When this happens, the Sun moves over the equator and the length of day and night is roughly equivalent.
This balance is reflected in the word equinox which is a portmanteau of the latin words for equal and night.
Alongside the two equinoxes, the Earth also undergoes two solstices – one in the summer and one in the winter.
Autumn Equinox 2018: In the Southern Hemisphere the September Equinox starts Spring (Image: GETTY)
Mr Kerss said: “The solstices mark the beginning of summer and winter, and occur when one of the Earth’s poles is as close to the Sun as it can be, and the other as far as it can be.
“Therefore, we have two solstices and two equinoxes every year, each separated by about three months.
“They signal the start of astronomical seasons, although our meteorological sense of when the seasons begin varies according to the climate and weather.”
The solstices take place around June 21 and around December 21.