The Winter Solstice is a cosmic phenomenon that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in a specific hemisphere. It usually happens around
December 21–22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20–21 in the Southern Hemisphere. What Happens on This Day?
- At noon, the Sun appears at its lowest point in the sky.
- Daylight hours are cut short, while the night is the longest.
- After the winter solstice, days gradually become longer as we head towards the summer solstice.
Why Does It Happen?
Winter solstice happens because Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5°. This tilt causes different regions of Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. On the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole tilts farthest away from the Sun, because of which it appears at its lowest point in the sky and only stays there for fewer hours. This results in fewer daylight hours and longer nights in a particular hemisphere.
Post the winter solstice, Earth's position changes, causing days to become gradually longer, paving the way for the summer solstice.
Winter Solstice vs Equinox: What Is the Difference?
Solstice is a Latin word translating to “Sun stands still.” It occurs when the Sun touches its highest or lowest point in the sky during the year, resulting in the longest day (Summer Solstice) or the longest night (Winter Solstice).
Equinox, on the other hand, is a Latin word meaning “equal night.” It happens biannually: in March and September. It is the moment when the Sun passes directly over the Earth’s equator, leading to almost equal hours of daylight and darkness worldwide.
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