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When are day and night equal in Denmark?

The two equinoxes of the year.

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Short answer

Day and night are roughly equal, about 12 hours each, at the two equinoxes. In 2026 the spring equinox fell on 20 March and the autumn equinox on 23 September; in 2027 they fall on 20 March and 23 September again. In practice the day is a little over 12 hours at the equinox, about 12 hours 11 minutes in Copenhagen. This is because sunrise is counted from the top edge of the sun, and the air bends the light so the sun appears about 4 minutes earlier and sets about 4 minutes later.

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. Around the spring equinox the days grow fastest, by almost 5 minutes a day.
  2. The real 12 hour day comes a few days before the spring equinox.
  3. In autumn the 12 hour day comes a few days after the equinox.

Details

The spring equinox used to fall on 21 March, now falls on 20 March and will fall on 19 March in 2048.

Tip

Late March is a good time for a trip: the days are already over 12 hours and grow fast every week.

What may differ

The exact moment of the equinox moves by several hours from year to year.

Common misconception

Many think day and night are exactly 12 hours each on the day of the equinox.

What actually happens

The day is already about 11 minutes longer than 12 hours, because of the sun's edge and how the air bends light.

People also ask

  • When is the longest day in Denmark?
  • How fast do the days get longer after Christmas?
  • When is the shortest day in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.

Weather and seasons
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