![]() Twice a year, the Earth’s ellipse meets with the equator. In our case this month, the northern hemisphere is frosty, and in some places, such as far north in Europe, Canada, Alaska and Russia, the temperature falls below -30°, and the Sun is nowhere to be seen. The Earth’s axis is titled at a degree of 23.5, resulting in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres enjoying half a year’s worth of direct sunlight. The cause of the solstice is the Earth’s ellipse around the Sun, when the one hemisphere is at it’s furthest tilt away from our star. Strangely, the seasons do not change according to the Earth’s distance to the Sun, rather the seasons occur as a result of the Earth’s tilt toward and away from the Sun. Furthermore, this theory reshaped the Catholic Church’s calendar and its celebrations around the winter solstice. His theory of a heliocentric world and solar system, which can be viewed as a direct challenge to biblical representations, resulted in an uproar in the Catholic Church and consequently a lifelong house arrest for Galilei. He paid the ultimate price for his discovery of the astronomical causes of the solstice. Proof, however, exists that Galileo Galilei’s fate was coupled to the solstice. Historically, little evidence surrounds such events. ![]() Some recount grisly sacrifices by pagans, in order to satiate the gods’ thirst for blood. Worldwide, various myths and legends abound around this long night. The event brings a plethora of customs, festivities and superstitions with it and evidence of the winter solstice’s observance can be seen in sites around the world, e.g., the famous Stonehenge in England – an indication that even prehistoric peoples were aware of the event. ![]() In the morning hours at 5:50 AM, the astronomical winter will begin. Today, those of us in the north will be basking in roughly eight hours of daylight. Have no fear, it is only the longest night and the shortest day of the year. The sun is above the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere, making it summer there.On the 21st of December, the Northern Hemisphere will sink into its deepest point of darkness. Likewise, a winter solstice happens in the Northern Hemisphere when the hemisphere is tilting away from the sun, making it the day with the least amount of sunlight. It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, where the Earth is tilting away from the sun. On the day of a solstice, the Earth is at its maximum tilt, 23.5 degrees, either toward or away from the sun.ĭuring a summer solstice, the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere and is tilting toward the sun, causing the longest day of the year. ![]() But at a place with 60 degrees of latitude, such as Alaska's Kayak Island, a day is about 12 hours and 16 minutes. At the equator, daylight may last for about 12 hours and seven minutes. Day and night appear to be equal due to the bending of the sun's rays, which makes the sun appear above the horizon when it is actually below it.ĭuring an equinox, days are slightly longer in places with higher latitudes. News On the equinox, 'Chicagohenge' emerges from the city's skyscrapersĪt places along the equator, the sun is directly overhead at about noon on these days.
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