The winter solstice, occurring on December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, signifies the shortest day and longest night of the year. This astronomical event happens when the Earth's tilt positions the Northern Hemisphere furthest from the sun, resulting in minimal daylight. While the solstice marks the beginning of winter in the North and summer in the South, the amount of daylight varies depending on location.
The winter solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere on Dec. 21 this year.As holiday lights brighten streets and the season of cheer unfolds, Dec. 21 marks the winter solstice this year -- a reminder that the darkest day of the year is upon us.
At 4:20 a.m. ET, the solstice will take place, marking "the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere," according to NASA. "All locations north of the equator see daylight shorter than 12 hours and all locations south see daylight longer than 12 hours," NASA says.The two solstices are considered to be the start of the astronomical winter and summer seasons.
These seasons are based on Earth's natural rotation. In contrast, meteorological seasons divide the year into three-month groups based on temperature patterns, making them more closely aligned with our monthly civil calendar than astronomical seasons.Yes! After the solstice, every day will have a little more sunlight than the one before. By the time we reach the summer solstice on June 20, 2025, it will be the longest day of the year.
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