News Excerpt

The winter solstice was observed in India on 22nd December.

Winter Solstice 2023

• Winter Solstice, observed on 22nd December, is known as the "first day of winter" in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also referred to as 'hiemal solstice' or 'hibernal solstice,' it marks the shortest day of the year in this hemisphere. 
• The solstice commenced at 4:44 pm, when the Earth was at its maximum tilt, 23.5 degrees, away from the sun.
• On the shortest day, the sunrise was predicted at 7:10 am, and the sunset is expected to take place at 5:29 pm.
• December’s winter solstice is when the northern half of the Earth is tilted furthest away from the sun, marking the "astronomical" first day of winter. 
• The Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it. As the sun’s rays fall vertically at the Tropic of Capricorn (23° S), a larger portion of the Southern Hemisphere gets light.
• The Southern Hemisphere receives most sunlight on December 21, 22 or 23 when the Northern Hemisphere has its longest nights or the winter solstice.
  • Following the winter solstice, each day in the northern hemisphere will gradually grow longer until the summer solstice.

Summer Solstice. 

• The maximum amount of sunlight received by the Northern Hemisphere during this time is usually on June 20, 21 or 22.
• During this time, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer.  As a result, these areas receive more heat. The areas near the poles receive less heat as the rays of the sun are slanting.
• The North Pole is inclined towards the sun and the places beyond the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six months. 
• Since a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. 
• At this time in the Southern Hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed. It is winter season there. The nights are longer than the days. This position of the earth is called the Summer Solstice. 
• Summer solstice, however, does not necessarily mean the earliest sunrise or the latest sunset. That depends on the latitudinal location of the country.