Dec. 21 Winter Soltice Longest Night of the Year

The End of the World does not happen on December 21 but the Winter Soltice will always be part of the astronomical calender. The winter soltice is the beginning of winter in the Northern hemisphere and summer in the Southern hemisphere.

The soltice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator which usually occurs either December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn.

Meanwhile the summer soltice occurs either June 20 or 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. The astronomical calendar is just reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

During the winter soltice, the Northern hemisphere countries will experience the shortest day and the longest night of the year. According to some estimates, the Philippines will experience at longest night will last up to 16 hours, 40 minutes and 29 seconds.

The origin of the word “Soltice” came from Latin “solstitium,” which means “sol = sun” and “stitium = a stoppage.”

December 21 Longest Night

 

 

 

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