Spring begins astronomically in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH — The astronomical spring season officially began in Saudi Arabia and across the Northern Hemisphere on Friday, March 20, 2026, marking the end of winter, which lasted 88 days, 23 hours and 41 minutes.Majed Abu Zahra, president of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, said the vernal equinox occurred at 5:46 p.m. Makkah time, the moment that defines the start of spring astronomically.He explained that at the time of the equinox, the sun is positioned directly above the equator, distributing its light almost evenly between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres as it appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north.Abu Zahra noted that the equinox results in nearly equal lengths of day and night across most parts of the world, although daytime is slightly longer by a few minutes.He attributed this to the sun being observed as a disc rather than a point, in addition to atmospheric refraction, which makes it appear higher than its actual position and extends daylight by approximately five to seven minutes in mid-latitudes.He added that on the day of the equinox, the sun rises exactly from the east and sets exactly in the west, a phenomenon that occurs only twice a year.Astronomical spring is expected to continue for about 92 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes, until the summer solstice on June 21.