COLUMBUS, OH – Today, December 21, marks the winter solstice, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere. As the official start of the astronomical winter, this event signals a shift in seasons, with the sun reaching its most southerly point in the sky.
At noon today, the sun will appear directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, located at a latitude of 23.5 degrees south. This position results in the fewest hours of daylight for those in the Northern Hemisphere, which is tilted furthest from the sun at this time of year. The winter solstice officially occurred at 4:20 a.m. EST (0920 GMT), according to In the Sky.org, marking a brief moment that sets the stage for the coldest months of the year.
The winter solstice is a result of Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the sun, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres alternate in their tilt toward or away from the sun. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away, it experiences winter, with the sun remaining lower in the sky throughout the day. This results in sunlight that is less intense and spread over a larger area, leading to the cooler temperatures associated with the season.
The good news for those awaiting more daylight: from today onward, the days will slowly grow longer. As the Earth continues its orbit, the sun will rise earlier and set later, gradually bringing more sunshine until the summer solstice in June.
