Winter Solstice

Geography

Winter Solstice

Reviewed by:

Aiswarya Ittianath

Winter Solstice and its Significance

The term “solstice” has been derived from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sister (to stand still). During the solstice, the angle between the plane of the Earth’s equator called declination and the Sun’s rays seems to stand still. Winter solstice occurs for the duration of two months during the year when the path of the Sun is farthest north in the Southern Hemisphere (June 20/21) and farthest south in the Northern Hemisphere (December 21/22). It is also known as the Hibernal Solstice or the Hiemal Solstice. The term midwinter has been used for winter solstice since the 18th century. At the time of winter solstice, the path of the Sun in the sky is the shortest. This is the reason why there is the least daylight and the longest night on this date.

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Winter Solstice Great Conjunction

In 2020 the longest night of the year on December 21 witnessed an extraordinary astronomic event which is known as the Winter Solstice Great Conjunction. Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets of the solar system almost overlapped each other to form a double planet. This event could be witnessed from anywhere in the world and was a phenomenon that has occurred almost after 800 years. Winter Solstice Great Conjunction was also called Christmas Star of the Year.

Winter Solstice in the Hemispheres

Now that you know what is winter solstice let’s see what happens during this period in the hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted about 23.4° (23°27′) away from the Sun at the time of winter solstice date. As the rays shift southward from the Equator by the same degree, the vertical noon rays fall directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn (23°27′ S). After six months, the South Pole gets inclined about 23.4° away from the Sun. On this winter solstice Southern Hemisphere date, the sun’s rays are vertically overhead to their northernmost position, the Tropic of Cancer (23°27′ N).

Winter solstice marks the onset of the winter season according to the astronomical definition of the seasons. This season lasts until the start of the vernal equinox which starts on March 20/21 in the Northern Hemisphere and on September 22/23 in the Southern Hemisphere. After the solstice date, the days start to get longer. This day is also celebrated in many cultures as a time of rebirth.

In several temperate regions, the winter solstice is considered the middle of winter, but in most calendars and countries it marks the beginning of the winter season.

Difference Between the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice

Summer Solstice	Winter Solstice
At the time of the Summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun.	At the time of the Winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted farthest from the Sun.
It is also known as the Estival solstice or Midsummer.	It is also known as the Hiemal Solstice or Hibernal Solstice.
The Summer solstice date is 21st June.	The Winter solstice falls on 21st December.
It is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.	This date has the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere gets the shortest night on the Summer Solstice.	The Southern Hemisphere gets the longest days during the Winter Solstice.
Sun’s rays are directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer.	Sun’s rays are directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn.
The places beyond the Arctic circle have continuous daylight for almost six months.	The places beyond the Antarctic circle have continuous daylight for almost six months.
During the Summer solstice a large area in the Northern Hemisphere gets heat and sunlight. This causes summers in the Northern Hemisphere while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winters.	During the Winter solstice a large area of the Southern Hemisphere gets heat and sunlight. This causes summers in the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere experiences winters.
It marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere but it is not the day of the earliest sunrise and the latest sunset. The reason for this is the orbital speed of the Sun which varies during this time of the year and the Earth orbits it in an ellipse.	The duration of the winter solstice is only brief but the term is used for the day itself when it occurs.

Conclusion

You know what is winter solstice is and when it occurs but it also has historical and cultural significance. Winter solstice holds significant importance in several cultures and is often marked by rituals and festivals. It is also considered as the time of the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun.

FAQs on Winter Solstice

1. Give winter solstice definition?

Winter solstice or hibernal solstice is the date when either the North or the South Pole is at its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This phenomenon occurs twice each year, once in each hemisphere: Northern and Southern. The hemisphere which experiences the winter solstice gets the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year. There is continuous twilight or darkness around the winter solstice in the hemisphere which is experiencing it. At this time the Sun is at its lowest maximum elevation of the day in the sky.

2. When is the winter solstice and summer solstice?

The summer solstice occurs on June 21 and the winter solstice occurs on December 22. During the winter solstice, the longest night is about 10-12 hours in the Northern Hemisphere and the Arctic Circle remains gets continuous night for six months in winter. During the summer solstice, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere is just over 12 hours in the southern portion of the Tropic of Cancer.

3. What are the vernal and autumnal equinoxes?

There are two instances between the summer and winter solstice when the Earth’s tilt is zero. It means that the tilt is neither towards the Sun nor away from it. These dates are the vernal equinox on 21st March), also known as the first day of spring, and the autumnal equinox on 23 September, known as the first day of fall. The term Equinox means equal. During these equinoxes, daylight and night hours are both 12 hours each.