The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This tilt changes the amount of sunlight that reaches different parts of the Earth throughout the year. At the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere is at its maximum tilt from the sun.
When is the shortest day of the year?
The 2024 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, will fall on Saturday, December 21st. This is the moment when the sun is exactly at the zenith of the Tropic of Capricorn. However, this date is not fixed. Depending on the length of the solar year (approximately 365 days, 5 hours and 49 minutes), the summer solstice can fall between December 20th and 22nd.
The winter solstice also marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year. For residents of Central Europe, this is the time of year when the hours of daylight are the shortest.
The reason is the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun. On the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as possible, so the sun's rays fall at a lower angle and illuminate a smaller area.
This astronomical phenomenon not only determines the length of the day, but also influences the temperature. The sun's rays are too scattered to warm the northern regions of the Earth.
How long will the shortest day of the year last?
Although the astronomical onset of winter applies throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the length of the shortest day of the year varies depending on the latitude in which a particular town is located. In Poland, regional differences are striking.
In the north of the country, at Cape Rosewee, days last only 7 hours and 12 minutes. Sunrise is at 8:09am and sunset is at 3:21pm. In Opolonek, in southern Poland, the shortest day is around 8 hours and 13 minutes.
In places close to the Arctic Circle, such as Tromsø in Norway, the day never dawns and it becomes a polar night. However, in countries close to the equator, the difference in length between day and night is barely perceptible, even during the summer solstice.
The importance of the winter solstice in world cultures
For centuries, the winter solstice has been a turning point, both natural and spiritual. In ancient Rome, Saturnalia was celebrated from December 17th to 23rd. This is a festival in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture who symbolizes the end of darkness and the rebirth of light. This tradition has had some influence on how we celebrate Christmas.
It is also worth mentioning the Slavic generous god celebrating the resurrected sun, which heralded the victory of light over darkness. The Slavs believed that this is the time when a new cycle of life begins. In Iran, during the Yalda celebration, families gather to read poetry and enjoy seasonal fruits to celebrate the longest night of the year.
But in England, the megalithic circles of Stonehenge are part of an astonishing sight. The first rays of the sun on the summer solstice fit perfectly into the alignment of the stones, which have fascinated lovers of astronomy and spirituality for centuries.
Professor Chwedoruk: The color of this campaign will be gray/RMF24.pl/RMF.
