JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fall is almost over and winter is right around the corner!
Sunday marks the first day of winter, which coincides with the winter solstice. What exactly is a solstice, and does this event occur at other points of the year?
Earth’s axis is tilted at roughly 23.5 degrees. This tilt is why we have seasons!
The tilt allows each hemisphere to receive different amounts of sunlight and daylight throughout the year.
On Sunday, the North Pole will be tilted farthest away from the sun. This means the Northern Hemisphere receives the least amount of direct sunlight, and why it’s the shortest day of the year.
In the southern hemisphere, Sunday will mark the first day of Summer! Seasons are flipped since the tilt allows one hemisphere to be closer to the sun compared to the other. The winter solstice for the southern hemisphere occurs in June.
You might wonder what the difference is between a solstice and an equinox.
A solstice is when the sun reaches its northernmost or southernmost point in the sky. This is when we experience the longest and shortest days of the year, which occur in the summer and winter.
An equinox is when you have the sun directly over the equator. We experience equal daylight across the planet, which occurs in the spring and fall.