Upcoming Solstice in 2024: Identifying the Day with the Least Sunlight Hours
It's been chilly for quite some time in regions above the equator's line, but according to astronomical definitions, winter officially starts when the solstice arrives. This event happens this coming Saturday, where the Northern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day and longest night, while the Southern Hemisphere witnesses its longest day and shortest night.
Here's everything you need to know about this weekend's solstice, and why it's significant.
Winter Solstice 2025: Time And Date
On Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at 4:19 a.m. EST, the winter solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. At this precise moment, the sun rises above the Tropic of Capricorn. It appears at its most southerly position as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.
As Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, explained in an email, "solstice" originates from the Latin words "sol" sun and "sistere" (to stand still). It refers to the point where the sun's apparent movement north or south halts before reversing direction."
Winter Solstice 2025: Why It Occurs
"The December solstice happens due to Earth's axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun," said Balaji. "This tilt causes different parts of Earth to receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. During the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest away from the sun, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year for that hemisphere."
The sun is also lower in the sky and takes a shorter path through the sky. This situation is responsible for the chilly temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winter Solstice 2025: Earth At 'Perihelion'
Contrary to popular belief, the seasons are not related to Earth's distance from the sun. Instead, Earth reaches the perihelion — its closest point to the sun on its slightly elliptical orbit — on Jan. 3, 2025, just two weeks after the solstice.
The winter solstice signifies the moment when the sun is above the Tropic of Capricorn, marking the start of longer days. Therefore, it is traditionally celebrated as the sun's rebirth and the beginning of the solar year.
Winter Solstice 2025: How Long Is The Shortest Day?
The length of the shortest day varies depending on your location on the planet. Here are some examples from the Northern Hemisphere:
- New York: 9 hours and 15 minutes.
- Los Angeles: 9 hours and 53 minutes.
- London: 7 hours and 49 minutes.
"The exact duration will differ based on how far north or south you are from the equator," Balaji explained. "After the December solstice, the days start to get longer in the Northern Hemisphere."
Hoping for clear skies and intriguing perspectives.
The celebration of the winter solstice often marks the innovation of ancient cultures, as they associated this event with the rebirth of the sun and the commencement of longer days. Furthermore, the celebration of the solstice highlights the significance of science, specifically astroparticle physics and cosmology, in understanding the Earth's positioning and the movement of the sun.
