3 Things to Know About Spring Equinox vs. Vernal Equinox

They are the same thing Spring equinox and vernal equinox are two names for the same astronomical event: the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator moving north, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

“Vernal” just means spring The word “vernal” is Latin for “of spring,” so the terms are synonyms. There is no difference in daylight hours or any other aspect.

Ignore marketing hype Confusion usually comes from marketing or astrology blogs trying to sound fancy. Don’t overthink it.