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equinox vs. solstice

equinox

[ ee-kwuh-noks, ek-wuh- ]
noun
  1. the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about March 21 (vernal equinox, or spring equinox ) and September 22 (autumnal equinox ).
  2. either of the equinoctial points.

solstice

[ sol-stis, sohl- ]
noun
  1. Astronomy.
    1. either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator: about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point.
    2. either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.
  2. a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.