Summary
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when the Earth is tilted farthest from the sun. This event signals the start of winter north of the equator and summer in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
Key Facts
- The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
- It marks the start of winter north of the equator and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
- "Solstice" comes from Latin, meaning "sun" and "pause" or "stop."
- During the solstice, the sun makes its shortest, lowest arc in the sky.
- After the winter solstice, days begin to get longer until late June.
- People have historically celebrated solstices worldwide, with some structures like Stonehenge built to align with the sun.
- The Earth orbits the sun at an angle, affecting how sunlight reaches different parts of the planet during solstices.
