Today, March 19 is the first day of spring. It’s the earliest date that spring can arrive, thanks to Leap Day. It’s also the vernal equinox: because the earth is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun today, everyone on our whole planet has a 12-hour night and a 12-hour day. But if you missed it, don’t worry — we’ll get another equinox as the first day of fall!
Wee ones: The sun rose today at about 6 am everywhere. But if you have Daylight Savings, your clock time said 1 hour later than that. What time did your clock say at sunrise?
Little kids: The sun actually takes a couple of minutes for the whole disc to show in the sky. If the sun started rising at 6:57 am, and takes 2 minute to rise fully, at what time is the whole sun up? Bonus: If you’ll have sunshine for 12 hours today but stay awake 3 hours longer than that, how long are you awake?
Big kids: Sunrise and sunset change the most from day to day at this time of year. If the sun now rises 2 minutes earlier each day, how much earlier will it rise 2 weeks from now? Bonus: So if the sun rose for you today at 7:05 am, at what time will sunrise be for you in 2 weeks?
Answers:
Wee ones: 7 am.
Little kids: 6:59 am. Bonus: 15 hours.
Big kids: 28 minutes earlier. Bonus: At 6:37 am.
