What is the meaning of solstice and equinox?

What are the solstices and equinoxes? The Earth's axis is tilted by 23.4 degrees and so the plane of the Earth's equator is tilted with respect to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun – sometimes referred to as the ecliptic. Diagram of the seasons. read more

Well, the equinox is often confused with the solstice, which is either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. Solstice derives from the Latin solstitium, which literally means “the standing still of the sun.” The solstice occurs around June 21 and December 22. read more

A solstice is an event occurring when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around June 21 and December 21. The seasons of the year are determined by reference to both the solstices and the equinoxes. read more

A solstice is an event that also happens twice a year. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin word "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere" meaning to make stand. The way we understand it literally is that it describes the moment that the sun reaches its northern or southernmost point. In essence, the sun is standing. read more