Today at 10:49 EDT we officially enter the Autumn season. The Autumnal equinox gives us the same amount of day and night; sunset and sunrise become exactly 12 hours apart. On September 22, 2012, the Fall season brings us cooler temperatures as we move closer to Winter.

In the Spring, we call this the Vernal equinox. Again, there is shared daylight and darkness. This occurrence happens twice a year, in the Fall and the Spring. Equinox means “equal night”.

Solar alignments registered keenly with the ancients and are celebrated even today. The Fall equinox is called Mabon, and is among the eight festivals on the Wheel of the Year.

Equinox at Chichen Itza is particularly dazzling to scientists, astronomers, and enthusiasts alike, especially Canadians searching for warmer weather. It is located in the Mexican state of Yucatán. It was built by the Maya civilization and is visited by many every year. The Maya name “Chichen Itza” means “I am the Feathered Serpent.”

Dominating the North Platform of Chichen Itza is the Temple of Kukulkan (a Maya feathered serpent deity similar to the Aztec Quetzalcoatl), usually referred to as El Castillo (“the castle”).

“On the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, in the late afternoon, the northwest corner of the pyramid casts a series of triangular shadows against the western balustrade on the north side that evokes the appearance of a serpent wriggling down the staircase. Some have suggested the effect was an intentional design by the Maya builders to represent the feathered-serpent god Kukulcan.”

The Ancient Maya were certainly a fascinating people.