Winter Solstice – 2018

December 22, 2018

The winter solstice 2018 took place on December 21. It is the time of the year when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. Winter Solstice happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere.

Winter Solstice

The term ‘solstice’ is derived from two Latin words “sol” which means sun, and “sistere” meaning standstill.
Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
On Winter Solstice the sun appears at its most southern position, directly overhead along the Tropic of Capricorn.
On the other hand Winter Solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Southern hemisphere.
Even though the solstice gets an entire day of recognition, it happens in an instant when the North Pole is at its farthest tilt of 23.5 degrees away from the sun. As a result the North Pole would be beyond the sun’s reach, and plunges it into total darkness.
At Winter Solstice the sun had reached its southernmost point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere and afterwards will begin its trek northward in the sky.
After Winter Solstice the days will be longer in the Northern Hemisphere.

The 2018 Winter Solstice is special because it will be followed the next day by a full moon, called the Cold Moon, which will be visible in the night with the Ursid meteor shower.

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