The winter solstice is approaching, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere—a perfect time for holiday lights and cozy blankets.
If you prefer more sunlight, you can head to the Southern Hemisphere where it is summer. Alternatively, you can wait for the days to gradually get longer in the Northern Hemisphere starting from Sunday until late June.
Historically, humans have recognized these annual changes in sunlight as the Earth orbits the sun. Structures like Stonehenge in England and the Torreon at Machu Picchu in Peru were designed to align with solstices.
Learn more about how the Earth’s journey around the sun divides the year.
What Is the Solstice?
As the Earth orbits the sun at an angle, its axis is tilted towards or away from the sun for most of the year. The solstices mark the times when the Earth is at its maximum tilt towards or away from the sun, resulting in unequal sunlight distribution between the hemispheres.
During the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the upper half of the Earth is tilted away from the sun, leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice occurs between December 20 and 23.
Conversely, during the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, causing the longest day and shortest night of the year. The summer solstice falls between June 20 and 22.
Revellers celebrate the pagan festival of ‘Winter Solstice’ at Stonehenge in Wiltshire in southern England on Dec. 21, 2012. Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
What Is the Equinox?
During the spring and fall equinoxes, both hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight as the Earth’s axis aligns with its orbit. The word equinox originates from Latin words meaning equal and night, signifying the almost equal duration of day and night during this time.
The Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox falls between March 19 and 21, while the fall equinox occurs between Sept. 21 and 24.
What’s the Difference Between Meteorological and Astronomical Seasons?
Meteorological seasons are based on weather patterns, dividing the year into three-month periods. Spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1, and winter on Dec. 1.
On the other hand, astronomical seasons are determined by the Earth’s position relative to the sun.
Solstices mark the beginning of summer and winter, while equinoxes signal the start of spring and autumn.
