Equator explained to kids

The equator is an imaginary line that goes around the center of the Earth. It's about 40,075 kilometers long (24,901 miles). The equator is divided into two parts: the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The word "equator" comes from the Latin word for "equal," because the length of a day and night are almost equal at the equator. The Sun is directly overhead at noon on the equator on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (around March 20 and September 23). The equator is an important line of latitude because it is used to measure other lines of latitude. For example, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are both 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator. The equator is also an important line of longitude because it is the starting point for measuring east and west longitude. The Prime Meridian, which is 0 degrees longitude, goes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. There are a few places on Earth where the equator is visible from space. One is in Ecuador, which is why it's called the "Equator." The other place is in Kenya, where there is an equator monument.