What is Winter Solstice:
When either of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun, it’s known as the winter solstice(longest night of the year) or hibernal solstice. This occurs once in each of the Northern and Southern hemispheres twice a year. The winter solstice, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum height in the sky, is the day with the longest night and the shortest daylight in that hemisphere. Around its winter solstice, every polar region is enveloped in twilight or darkness. The summer solstice is the opposite.
The winter solstice falls during the winter season in the hemisphere. This is the December solstice (December 21, December 22, or December 23) in the Northern Hemisphere and the June solstice (June 20, June 21, or June 22) in the Southern Hemisphere. The word also refers to the day on which the winter solstice occurs, even though the event itself only lasts a moment. Although it has distinct meanings, the term “midwinter” is frequently used interchangeably with the winter solstice. Although it is now observed as the start of winter in certain nations, the winter solstice is traditionally regarded as the middle of winter in many temperate locations. Other titles include the “shortest day” and the “extreme of winter” (Dongzhi).
The winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many civilisations since prehistoric times, and it has been celebrated with festivals and rituals. This is due to the fact that it marks the point at which daylight hours start to extend again after being shortened. It was interpreted as the Sun’s symbolic death and rebirth in some parts of Europe. The sunrise or sunset on the winter solstice coincides with the positions of several ancient monuments, including Newgrange, Stonehenge, Cahokia Woodhenge, and Ahu Tongariki.
solstice
The two times of the year when the Sun appears to be the furthest north or south from the Equator are known as the solstices. June 20 or 21 marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas December 21 or 22 marks the winter solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are inverted, the situation is completely the opposite. The day is the longest of the year during the summer solstice and the shortest at the winter solstice. The two points of maximum departure of the ecliptic, or the Sun’s apparent annual path, from the celestial equator are also referred to as the solstices.
The North Pole is inclined towards the Sun by roughly 23.4° (23°27´) at the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice. At the Tropic of Cancer (23°27´ N), the vertical noon rays are directly overhead because the Sun’s beams are pushed northward by the same amount. The South Pole is angled at 23.4° towards the Sun six months later. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Sun’s vertical overhead rays move towards the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23°27´ S, on this day of the summer solstice. Think about equinox.
Cultural relevance and history
Evidence suggests that as early as the Neolithic (New Stone Age), some cultures considered the winter solstice to be a significant time of the year. The mating of animals, the planting of crops, and the monitoring of food supplies during the winter were all frequently guided by astronomical phenomena. It was nearly the only time of year when there was an abundance of fresh meat available since livestock were killed so they wouldn’t need to be fed over the winter.
The apparent ebbing of the Sun in the sky is reversed at the winter solstice, when the daytime lengthens once more. This was represented in some parts of ancient Europe as the Sun’s or a Sun god’s death and rebirth.
Observation:
Direct visual observation of the solstice moment is difficult to achieve, despite the fact that it can be computed. The term “solstice” refers to the Sun’s excessively sluggish motion or seeming motionlessness. However, the exact time of its occurrence is now known to the public thanks to the tracking of astronomical data. It is impossible to determine the exact moment of the solstice because, by definition, individuals cannot notice that an object has stopped travelling until they notice that it has either travelled in the opposite way or has not moved any farther from the previous location.
A shift in azimuth or elevation that is less than or equal to around 1/60 of the Sun’s angular diameter must be visible to observers in order to be accurate to a single day. With an observation precision of just roughly 1/16 of the Sun’s angular diameter, it is simpler to note that it happened within a two-day span.
As a result, a lot of observations are made on the day of the solstice rather than right now. This is frequently accomplished by watching dawn and sunset or by employing an instrument that is astronomically positioned to cast a light beam onto a certain place at that time. However, because of the Earth’s eccentric orbit, which causes variations in solar day throughout the year, the earliest sunset and latest sunrise times deviate from the winter solstice and are dependent on latitude (see earliest and latest sunrise and sunset).
Frequently Asking Question(FAQ):
Why does the winter solstice happen?
The Sun seems to travel the shortest and lowest course across the sky on the day of the winter solstice. This is because the Earth’s tilt reduces the elevation of the Sun. The shortest day of the year results from the drastic reduction in sunshine length.
Why does 21 December have the longest night in India?
On Saturday, December 21, 2024, the winter solstice occurs. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the longest night and the shortest day. The axial tilt of the Earth is 23.5 degrees, which causes this phenomenon. The South Pole has the longest daylight hours, whereas the North Pole tilts away from the Sun the most.
What is the scientific reason for the winter solstice?
Solstices occur because Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted about 23.4 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit around the sun.
