The path of the Sun in the sky varies greatly between the equinoxes and solstices, marking the changing seasons. On the equinoxes, which occur around March 21 and September 23, the Sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west, creating nearly equal day and night lengths. Its arc across the sky is symmetrical, and at noon, the Sun stands directly overhead at the equator. In contrast, the solstices—around June 21 for summer and December 21 for winter—present the Sun at its most ext