Winter has (formally) arrived.
With a lot of the US coping with very low temperatures and heavy snowstorms, Wednesday marks the winter solstice, the astronomical begin of winter within the Northern Hemisphere.
The astronomical begin of winter implies that the Northern Hemisphere, at its farthest level from the Solar, is tilted about 23.5 levels. The lean from the solar means it is the shortest day of the yr, however there’s excellent news on the horizon for individuals who need longer days.
The date of the winter solstice varies from yr to yr and may fall wherever between December twentieth and twenty third, however the twenty first and twenty second are the most typical dates.
Here is what you have to know in regards to the winter solstice this yr:
What’s a solstice?
A solstice is when the earth’s axis, north or south, tilts so far as it’s near the solar. This may sign the altering of the seasons, relying on whether or not you might be within the northern or southern hemisphere. The winter solstice means winter within the north and summertime within the south as its tilt is closest to the solar.
When the summer time solstice happens in June, the roles are reversed.
We even have the equinoxes—March’s “spring” and September’s “autumn”—when day and evening are of the identical size however sign the altering of the seasons.
When is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice happens on the identical time regardless of the place you might be within the northern hemisphere, which can occur round 4:48 pm ET, in line with the US Naval Observatory and time and date.
At the moment, the solar’s rays shall be immediately over the Tropic of Capricorn, a line of latitude that circles the Earth within the Southern Hemisphere.
How lengthy will winter be?
Punxsutawney Phil has no say within the astronomical timing of winter.
Winter lasts from the winter solstice to the March equinox, which is normally about 89 days lengthy. The March equinox of 2023 will happen on March 20, which implies that this winter will final 89 days.
Does the winter solstice imply the coldest day on earth?
No.
Though this marks the official begin of winter, a lot of the US has its lowest temperatures in January as a result of it takes the Earth time to chill down, which takes a few month. It’s much like the summer time solstice in that though it happens in June, the very best temperatures within the US happen in July and August.
Does the winter solstice imply the times are getting longer?
When you hate it getting darkish this early, there may be gentle on the finish of the tunnel.
Though in most locations the most recent dawn or earliest sundown happens on the winter solstice, it’s the shortest day of the yr, which means the day with the least quantity of daylight.
From Thursday, the times will get just a little longer and the nights will get shorter each day. The longer days culminate in the summertime solstice, also called “the longest day”.
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Contributing: Doyle Rice
Observe Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
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