Winter Solstice
 | Author:
Jeff Ross
Contributor |
The Winter Solstice
Jeff Ross
Although not something we can see, the winter solstice is a defining
event of the year. At one instant in time, as we orbit the Sun, our
North Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
In 2022, that specific point in time happens on December 21 at 2:48 p.m.
Before December 21 the time between sunrise and sunset decreases. After
December 21 the time between sunrise and sunset increases until the
summer solstice on June 21, 2023 at 8:57 a.m.
In winter, our Sun never gets very high and sets far to the South. In
summer it is way overhead and sets far to the North. I've got an ongoing
project to capture that spot on the horizon where the Sun sets. You can
see the endpoints in a composite photo I made from 2021's solstice
points at mt43news.com/006. The left side image is actually from the day
after the winter solstice--those pesky clouds obscured the horizon. The
right image is from the summer solstice.
Our winter weather certainly is not tied to the winter solstice! We have
had precious few breaks since the cold weather hit in early November but,
as the Sun begins setting further and further to the North and our
daylight hours increase, Spring will not be far away.
Until then, if we brave the cold at sunset, we can enjoy Mercury and Venus
close together in the west, Saturn high in the southwest, and Jupiter
almost due south.
With clear skies, of course.
