Winter solstice saturnalia6/17/2023 Still others of us are simply fascinated with how the Universe works, and the Earth’s place in it.Īt a time when people’s access to food was totally dependent on the seasons, the solstices most likely helped them to keep track of when seasonal changes would occur. Astronomers, neo-pagans, farmers, or someone who wants to get a great suntan will all have their own reasons. What’s the big deal about the winter solstice anyway? That answer depends on whom you ask. The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin words sol, which means “sun,” and sistere, which means “to stand still.” 4 This is because at both the winter and summer solstices, the sun appears to stand still in its path, as viewed from Earth. ![]() For astrologers, it’s the day that the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The winter solstice is also the first day of winter. Some also refer to it as the longest night of the year. The winter solstice is described as the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere because it’s the darkest day of the year in terms of sunlight. The orthographic projection was rendered from the NASA Blue Marble Next Generation. Relationship between Earth’s axial tilt (ε) to the tropical and polar circles. 3īecause the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year, it’s not directly overhead in the Northern Hemisphere. 2Ĭountries on the Tropic of Capricorn include Brazil, Chile, French Polynesia, Tonga, Australia, Madagascar, Botswana, and others. The reason for its name is that at the time of its naming, about 2,000 years ago, the sun was entering the sign of Capricorn on the winter solstice. 1 This latitude is called the Tropic of Capricorn. The winter solstice (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) is also when the sun is directly overhead for a person who is at 23d 26′ 22″ latitude, or 23.4394 degrees south of the equator. The exact time of the solstice varies from year to year because the Earth doesn’t spin on its axis quite as precisely as our clocks tick in a 24-hour period. And the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is when the northern “tip” of the Earth is tilting the furthest away from the sun. The Earth is on a tilt of 23.5 degrees in relation to the sun. ![]() (At this time in the Southern Hemisphere, people will be celebrating the summer solstice.) What Is the Winter Solstice? ![]() The 2021 winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will happen on Tuesday, December 21st at 7:58 am PT. The First Known Observations of the Winter Solstice.Winter Solstice History, Traditions, Rituals, and Celebrations.
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