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Evening

physical science Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Evening is a special part of the day. It begins when the afternoon ends. This time overlaps with twilight and the start of night. The sun stays close to the horizon during this period.

Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India
Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India

Because the sun moves, the timing changes. It depends on where you live and the time of year. Some people say evening starts while it is still light. This means it can start before the sunset.

How we define evening can change. Many people think it starts at 5 p.m. The Oxford English Dictionary says it starts at 6 p.m. It can also start at sunset if that is earlier. The end of the evening is also different for everyone. Some say it ends around 9 p.m. Others say it ends when you go to bed.

Evening view on the bay of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius
Evening view on the bay of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius

The word has a very old history. It comes from an Old English word called æfnung. This meant the time around a sunset. It also meant the coming of the evening. The word æfnian meant to grow toward the evening. Another old word was æfen, or eve. This meant the time between sunset and darkness. People have used the word evening since the mid-15th century.

Scientists use the evening to study space. The light is not great for all types of astronomy. However, it is a good time to see certain planets. Venus and Mercury are best seen in the evening or morning. These planets orbit close to the Sun. It is also a popular time to hunt for comets. Their tails look larger as they get closer to the Sun.

Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India
Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India

Twilight can help us find other things in space. Scientists use it to search for near-Earth asteroids. These are rocks that orbit inside the path of Earth. In mid-latitudes, spring evenings are special too. This happens near the equinox. The equinox is in March for the Northern Hemisphere. It is in September for the south of the equator. During this time, you might see zodiacal light.

Evening view on the bay of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius
Evening view on the bay of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius
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File:Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India.jpg
Evening in Parambikkulam, Kerala, India.jpg
File:Evening view on the bay of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius.jpg
Evening view on the bay of Naples,...
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