winter solstice

Orion’s belt and sword with red super giant star Betelguese to the left and Blue supergiant Rigel on the right. All part of the Orion constellation.

From an astronomer’s point of view the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year in Northern Hemisphere. This occurs because, during the winter solstice, the Earth's axial tilt is such that the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

After the winter solstice, the days gradually begin to lengthen again, as the Earth continues its orbit around the Sun, and the Northern Hemisphere starts tilting more toward the Sun, leading to longer daylight hours.

The exact date of the winter solstice varies slightly each year, but it usually falls between December 20th and 23rd. My friends down under the equator are experiencing their shortest night of the year or their Summer solstice.

Go out tonight and look up at the stars! Dark night starts at 7pm. You might see a Geminid meteor. Jupiter is shining brightly near Orion’s belt. With Tarus and the Pleiades all nearby. Mars will be N and closer to the horizon. The moon will rise at midnight on Maui. A winter Milkyway arch will be <50% at 8pm.