Astronomical spring - The spring equinox has passed

Spring has officially arrived, again, with the passing of the spring equinox Friday afternoon.

At 02:46 pm, the equinox passed, marking the arrival of astronomical spring. Confused? Meteorological spring began on March 1st.

The distinction helps keep each season neatly within a three month cycle, but it's not until the equinox, where the day and night hours are almost equal and the sun directly passes the equator, that spring begins from an astronomical viewpoint.