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March 20 Equinox: Spring Begins in the North as Officials Publish Exact Times

A single astronomical instant occurs worldwide with local clocks set by time zone.

Overview

  • Mexico’s INAOE sets the moment at Friday, March 20, 2026, 08:46 Central Mexico Time (14:46 GMT), which marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • Argentina’s Servicio de Hidrografía Naval reports the equinox at 11:46–11:47 local time, illustrating how the same event translates to different clocks by region.
  • In regional guidance, an astronomer in Hermosillo cites 07:46 local time, underscoring that the timing varies only by time zone, not by the underlying astronomy.
  • The equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, producing nearly equal day and night, and its calendar date shifts because Earth’s year is about 365 days plus 5 hours 45 minutes 46 seconds.
  • Cultural coverage highlights large gatherings at sites such as Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacán and notes nearby sky views including the Moon’s approach to the Pleiades and pre‑dawn Milky Way visibility.