It’s hard to tell with all the snow and cold temperatures experienced in March so far, but spring has officially sprung, as evidenced by the open water in drains, creeks and rivers, like the South Nation in Chesterville. Spring, as computed by the astronomical (not meteorological) method, started yesterday, Tues., March 20, at 12:15 p.m. Why 12:15? Because that is when the sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north. The vernal (spring) and autumnal equinoxes mark the two days of the year when the whole planet receives almost the same amount of sunshine, 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Vetter photo
