Winter solstice 2023 | What to know about the shortest day of the year
The winter solstice is a special day that marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun, resulting in the least amount of daylight hours and the longest night of the year. In 2023, the winter solstice will happen on Thursday, December 21, at 10:27 P.M. EST (Friday, December 22, at 03:27 UTC).
The winter solstice is also known as the December solstice, because it occurs in December in the Northern Hemisphere. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is summer during this time of the year, the winter solstice occurs in June. The opposite phenomenon, the summer solstice, happens when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt towards the Sun, resulting in the most amount of daylight hours and the shortest night of the year.
The winter solstice is caused by Earth's tilted axis, which is about 23.5 degrees from the vertical. This means that as Earth orbits around the Sun, different parts of the planet receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. The tilt also determines the seasons, because it affects how high or low the Sun appears in the sky at different times of the year. The higher the Sun is in the sky, the more direct and intense its rays are, and vice versa.
The winter solstice is not a fixed date on the calendar, but rather a specific moment that happens at different times depending on your location and time zone. The exact moment of the winter solstice is when the Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude). This point is also called the subsolar point, because it is where the Sun is directly overhead at noon. The subsolar point moves across Earth's surface throughout the year, following an imaginary line called the ecliptic.
The winter solstice is an important event for many cultures and religions around the world, as it signifies the changing of the seasons and the rebirth of light. Many traditions and festivals are associated with this day, such as Christmas, Juul, Saturnalia, Yule, Dongzhi, and Shab-e Yalda. Some common themes include celebrating light, fire, hope, generosity, and gratitude.
The winter solstice is also a great opportunity to observe some astronomical phenomena, such as sunrise and sunset times, day length, and solstice day and night map. Depending on where you live, you may notice that:
- The sunrise and sunset times are at their latest and earliest respectively around this date. For example, in Time (USA), sunrise is at 7:47 am and sunset is at 4:23 pm on December 21.
- The day length is at its shortest around this date. For example, in Time (USA), there are only 8 hours and 36 minutes of daylight on December 21.
- The solstice day and night map shows how much daylight each part of Earth receives on this date. You can see that most of the Northern Hemisphere is in darkness, while most of the Southern Hemisphere is in daylight.
The winter solstice is a fascinating phenomenon that reminds us of Earth's place in space and time. It also invites us to reflect on our own lives and appreciate the beauty and diversity of nature. Whether you celebrate it or not, we hope you enjoy this special day and look forward to longer days ahead!
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