Autumn Equinox 2017 – here’s how the end of summer is being celebrated in the UK

SUMMER is officially over, and autumn is upon us.

Here's all you need to know about the autumnal equinox taking place today, including how it's being celebrated.

What is the autumnal equinox?

The autumnal equinox usually falls on September 22.

It marks the day when the earth is perfectly angled sideways to the sun, so day and night are roughly the same length all over the world.

The word equinox literally means "equal nights" in Latin, although day and night won't be exactly equal to the second.

Contrary to what many people believe, the equinox isn't a day-long event.

It actually only takes place during the moment in time when the sun crosses the celestial equator, an imaginary line in the sky above the real equator.

This year, the equinox came at 9:02 am.

When does summer end and autumn start in 2017?

For astronomers, the equinox marks the end of summer and the start of autumn, meaning fall has officially fallen.

Meteorologists, meanwhile, prefer to divide the year a bit differently, with autumn taking place from 1 September to the end of November.

Whichever one you use, we're officially in autumn now, so dig out your coats and put that BBQ away for another year.

How are people celebrating the autumn equinox?

For some, the equinox is a spiritual time, with Druids and Pagans particularly keen on the astronomical event.

A collection of new-age, spiritual types will have spent the morning at Stonehenge, where they will watch the sun rise on a new season.

In some rural communities, it is traditional to drink dandelion and burdock cordials on the day of the equinox to cleanse the body and prepare for autumn.

Others will celebrate by trying to balance an egg, thanks to the untrue urban legend that the equinox is the only day when egg balancing is possible.

Google, meanwhile, has joined in the celebrations the only way it knows how: with an autumn-themed doodle.

The animated doodle shows a scarf-wearing harvest mouse darting into its den to enjoy a warm cup of tea.