The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-19
THE EQUlnocTIaL STORM.

Editor OF THE TRIBUNE:
SIR: Under the above heading in re-
cent issue of the Sunday Free Press, the
astronomer Of that paper favored the com
munity with the following information
'The equinox is the time when the sun
crosses the equator, and when the days
and nights are of equal length. There are
two equinoxes in the course of the year,
b the first occurring when the sun enters
the first point OF Aries, about March 81,
and is called the vernal equinox; the sec
ond occurs when the sun enters the first
point of Silva, about Sept. 23, and is called
the autumnal equinox The equality as to
the length of days and nights is the same
in ali parts of the globe"
1t is a surprise to me that any one-tak-
ing upon himself the responsibility of i'm
parting astronomical knowledge to the
people-should fall into the old rut, and
quoting the old stereotyped error, that
day and night are equal in length in all
parts of the globe" Nothing could be
more further from the truth than the
above statement, for there is not a point of
latitude ON the face of the earth where day
and night are actually of equal length. 1t
Is true that they are equal on the equator,
and when we have said that we have said
all there is to be said on the equality of
day and night. North and south of the
equator day and night vary in length
True, the difference is not much for many
degrees each side Of the equator, but when
we reach.either pole we find that the night
has entirely vanished and day is twenty
four hours long. Does that seem much like
equality in day and night in all parts of
the globe! We think not. On the dates
mentioned, or the two equinoxes, the sun
throws its rays equally on both p oles, aud
frnn hiu ffN
stumbled into the conclusion that day and
night are equal the globe over.
On the vernal equinox 2lst of March.
the sun is rising for the north pole and IS
setting for the south pole. and while doing
this it is visible to both poles as a fiery
steed making complete circle along their
respective horizons. On the autumnal
equinox the grand spectacle is repeated,
with this difference, that the sun is then
rising for the south pole and setting for
the north pole. On both equinoxes several
equalities occur that do not at any other
time Of the year. First, day and night are
equal on the equator, and there only. .
Second, the earth is divided into two equal
parts, hence the third equality, the sun
throws its rays equally on both poles
Fourth, day and night at any given point
north latitude are the same length as at
the same point south latitude. For in
stance, If the day Is fifteen hours long and
the night nine hours at seventy-five de-
grees north latitude, they are respectively
the same length at seventy five degrees
south latitude.
The very fact that il the cause Of day
and night being equal on the equator, de-
man ds that the day should be at each pole
twenty.four hours long, and the night
nothing. That fact is this; the rays OF
the sun striking the earth at right angles
to it's axis, it follows that from any given
point on the equator the rising and setting
of the sun Is just ninety degrees distant.
The earth is thus divided into two equal
parts; $50 degrees Of the sun, and 1870 de-
grees of no sun, consequently day and
night are equal on the equator; but in the
case of either pole this fact gives a very
different result. II man ON the equator
can see the sun traverslng 1870 degrees, or
half the circle; or, in other words, see the
sun ninety degrees away; it is not too
much to expect that man standing on
either pole conld do the same thing, and
inAsmuch as the sun at any point on the
equator is only ninety degrees from the
pole, it follows that man standing there
could see the sun traversing the entire cir
Gle, or 800 degrees. While from the nature
of things day and night are equal on the
equator at either pole-and from the very
same cause-there could be no greater diff
ference between them; !. O., the night is
completely annihilated. and day reigns
supreme. kpEN p. DAVIES.
Scranton, Sept. 49,.