Filipinos should brace for more moments under the sun as longer days are expected following the occurrence of the vernal equinox, in which the length of the day and night in both hemispheres of the Earth will be equal this Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the vernal equinox (equal) will happen today with daytime and nighttime having an equal length of 12 hours each.

Vernal equinox or the First Point of Aries occurs when the sun approaches the celestial equator, the imaginary horizontal line dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres.

The Philippines is located in the northern hemisphere.

Even though there are only dry and wet seasons in the country, as compared to other countries with winter, spring, autumn, and summer seasons, it will experience hotter days and nights during the period after the vernal equinox.

At 1:32 a.m. Sunday, the sun will appear directly centered over the earth’s equator, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

After the vernal equinox, Philippine daytime is expected to be longer than the nighttime until September 22.

Equal lengths of day and night happen twice a year during the vernal and autumnal equinox.