Vernal equinox marks the tipping point into longer days. The word "equinox" comes from the Latin words for equal and night.

Spring is almost here — officially, at least. The vernal equinox arrives on Thursday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere and the fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

Known as the spring equinox – or vernal equinox if you prefer its official title – it’s one of just two days of the year when the point of balance between light and dark is the same ...