 The Wheel of the Year, 2010 CE SOLSTICE* (Solsc): either of the two extremes of the Earth’s 23.4° axial-tilt relative to the sunlight falling on its surface. Only at the Summer Solstice is the Earth’s north pole tilted the full 23.4° towards the Sun... and only at the Yule Solstice is it tilted the full 23.4° away. EQUINOX (Eqx): the Spring or Autumn quarter begins for the Northern Hemisphere as the North and South Poles momentarily are poised on the Earth’s terminator; the boundary-line between night and day. As a consequence, only at these times of year are the hours of night and day equal. CROSSQUARTER (XQ): here is defined as the moment in time precisely half-way between an adjacent solstice and equinox. Not being an actual formal astronomical term, "crossquarter" can be defined in a number of ways (see a more extended discussion of this issue here). 
-* Pronunciation note: All content on this page including the diagram is copyright (c)2009 Earrach of Pittsburgh. Use by request and credit to author only. |