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When Does The Winter Solstice Happen In 2025? Find Out

When Does The Winter Solstice Happen In 2025? Find Out

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 3:19 a.m. CT. On this day, Tennessee will see roughly nine hours and 41–47 minutes of daylight, with sunrise and sunset times varying by city. The solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun, resulting in the least sunlight of the year. Following the solstice, days will gradually lengthen as winter progresses until March 20, 2026.

Rare Chance To Spot Mercury Shining In The Dawn Light

Rare Chance To Spot Mercury Shining In The Dawn Light

Mercury is famously difficult to spot, but early December offers an ideal viewing window for Northern Hemisphere skywatchers. The planet rises earlier and brightens rapidly, becoming visible low in the east-southeast dawn sky about 40–80 minutes before sunrise. Around Dec. 7, Mercury reaches a particularly favorable elongation, making this its best morning appearance of 2025. Its increasing illumination and quick orbital motion help visibility, though it will fade again near Christmas. Clear horizons and early wake-ups give viewers their best chance.

Geminids Meteor Shower to Peak, Offering Spectacular Celestial Display

Geminids Meteor Shower to Peak, Offering Spectacular Celestial Display

The Geminids meteor shower, one of the most anticipated celestial events of the year, is set to peak this weekend. Known for its bright and colorful meteors, the Geminids are expected to produce up to 150 meteors per hour at their peak, according to the American Meteor Society. The shower, which began on December 4 and will continue until December 17, is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors originate from the Gemini constellation, which will rise in the eastern sky after sunset. Observers are advised to find a location away from city lights for optimal viewing. The shower is unique as it is caused by the 3200 Phaethon asteroid, unlike most meteor showers that are fed by comets.

Geminid Meteor Shower to Illuminate Skies This Weekend, Offering Spectacular Viewing Opportunity

Geminid Meteor Shower to Illuminate Skies This Weekend, Offering Spectacular Viewing Opportunity

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most prominent annual meteor showers, is set to peak this weekend, providing a spectacular celestial display. According to the American Meteor Society, the Geminids are visible through mid-December, with the best viewing opportunities occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. During the peak on Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, sky-gazers could witness up to 120 meteors per hour under optimal dark sky conditions, as reported by NASA. The meteors, which are typically yellow in color, are the result of fast-moving space rocks entering Earth's atmosphere and burning up, creating the appearance of 'shooting stars.' The Geminids are unique as they originate from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, unlike most meteor showers that come from comet debris.

Geminid Meteor Shower to Peak: Optimal Viewing Times and Locations

Geminid Meteor Shower to Peak: Optimal Viewing Times and Locations

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable annual meteor showers, is set to peak on the nights of December 13 and 14, 2025. According to NASA, under ideal conditions, the Geminids can produce over 120 meteors per hour. The shower is known for its vivid colors and high intensity, with meteors often appearing as yellowish streaks and sometimes producing fireballs. The Geminids originate from the debris trail of the rocky object 3200 Phaethon, which is either a near-Earth asteroid or an extinct comet. The best viewing times are expected to be from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time, with the radiant point located in the Gemini constellation.

NASA Reveals New Visuals of Black Hole Consuming Star, Shares Theories

NASA Reveals New Visuals of Black Hole Consuming Star, Shares Theories

NASA has released an animation depicting a black hole consuming a star, an event that occurred on July 2nd. Initially puzzling to scientists, the phenomenon has been identified as a new type of stellar explosion, named GRB 250702B. This discovery was announced on December 8th, following months of data analysis. The visuals provide a dramatic representation of the event, showcasing the immense gravitational forces at play as the black hole shreds the star. This finding contributes to the understanding of black holes and their interactions with surrounding celestial bodies.

HelioIndex: A New Tool for Tracking Solar Science Researchers

HelioIndex: A New Tool for Tracking Solar Science Researchers

HelioIndex is an innovative online directory that compiles data on researchers in the field of solar and heliospheric physics. By utilizing metadata from scientific articles and Open Researcher and Contributor IDs (ORCIDs), HelioIndex provides a comprehensive overview of the global community of solar scientists. This tool offers insights into geographic distribution, institutional affiliations, and publication records of over 2,300 active researchers. HelioIndex aims to enhance visibility and collaboration among scientists, particularly those early in their careers or in underrepresented regions.

Winter Solstice 2025: New York Prepares for Seasonal Changes

Winter Solstice 2025: New York Prepares for Seasonal Changes

Winter officially begins on December 21, 2025, marking the winter solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. This astronomical event occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun, resulting in minimal daylight and lower sun angles. The solstice is a significant marker for the start of winter, even if cold weather has already set in. According to the 2025-2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac Winter Forecast, New York is expected to experience varying winter conditions. Central New York and the Southern Tier are predicted to be colder than normal, while Western New York, the Capital Region, Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, and NYC/Long Island may see slightly milder conditions. Snowfall predictions also vary, with Western New York expecting near-normal snowfall, while other regions may see below-normal snow levels.

December Meteor Showers: Geminids and Ursids to Light Up the Sky

December Meteor Showers: Geminids and Ursids to Light Up the Sky

December 2025 brings two meteor showers, the Geminids and the Ursids, offering stargazers a chance to witness spectacular celestial events. The Geminids, known for their bright and fast meteors, will peak on December 12-13, with optimal viewing conditions due to minimal moonlight interference. The Ursids, although less prominent, will peak on December 21-22. Both showers are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere and require no special equipment, making them accessible to a wide audience.

How to watch one of the year's best meteor showers, the Geminids

How to watch one of the year's best meteor showers, the Geminids

It's time for the Geminid meteor shower, one of the strongest of the year

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 29 Starlink Satellites from Kennedy Space Center, Enhancing Internet Access

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 29 Starlink Satellites from Kennedy Space Center, Enhancing Internet Access

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 29 Starlink Satellites from Kennedy Space Center, Enhancing Internet Access

Hubble Captures Stunning Image of NGC 346 in Space Telescope Advent Calendar

Hubble Captures Stunning Image of NGC 346 in Space Telescope Advent Calendar

The 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar has unveiled a new image of NGC 346, a young star cluster located about 200,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud. This image, part of the advent calendar series, showcases the cluster's hot blue stars as they carve out a space within the surrounding nebula of gas and dust. The image combines observations from the Hubble Space Telescope at infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths, providing a detailed view of the stellar winds shaping the nebula.