Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the northern winter solstice

In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun. This causes the sun to appear at its farthest below the celestial equator when viewed from earth. Solstice is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand", referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Download high resolution version (1560x1024, 427 KB) Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of winter solstice on northern hemisphere. ... Download high resolution version (1560x1024, 427 KB) Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of winter solstice on northern hemisphere. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar system. ... Astrometry: the study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of position. ... Solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the Sun in relation to the celestial equator. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... The term hemisphere is used in three different meanings: one-half of the Earth (or other planetary or stellar body; see also New World and Old World) Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere. ... The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar system. ... The celestial equator is a great circle on the imaginary celestial sphere, which could be constructed by inflating the Earths equator until it intersects with said sphere. ... Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21/December 22, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. At this time, the sun appears over the Tropic of Capricorn, roughly 23.5 degrees South of the earth's equator. In the southern hemisphere, winter solstice falls on June 21/June 22, which is the northern hemisphere's summer solstice. At this time, the sun appears over the Tropic of Cancer. Northern Hemisphere highlighted in yellow. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Southern Hemisphere of Earth highlighted in yellow. ... Illumination of Earth by the sun on the northern hemisphere summer solstice The summer solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the sun in relation to the celestial equator. ... The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. ... The equator is an imaginary circle drawn around a planet (or other astronomical object) at a distance halfway between the poles. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... The Tropic of Cancer (cancer (♋) is Latin for crab), one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth, is the parallel of latitude that runs 23° 26 22 north of the Equator. ...

Since the winter solstice, summer solstice, vernal equinox, and autumnal equinox were probably observed for the first time by people in the northern hemisphere, these naming conventions originally corresponded to the northern hemisphere's seasons. In most reckonings, the winter solstice is midwinter. In Ireland's calendar, the solstices and equinoxes all occur at about midpoint in each season. For example, winter begins on November 1, and ends on January 31. The passage and chamber of Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December. Illumination of Earth by the sun on the northern hemisphere summer solstice The summer solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the sun in relation to the celestial equator. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) is known as the March equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the September equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The autumnal equinox (or fall equinox) is known as the September equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the March equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. ... A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox In astronomy, an equinox is defined as the moment when the sun reaches one of two intersections between the ecliptic and the celestial equator. ... A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Newgrange, Ireland Entrance slab with megalithic art Newgrange, one of the passage tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex in County Meath, is the most famous of all Irish prehistoric sites. ...

In the Chinese calendar, the winter solstice is called dōng zhì (冬至, "winter's extreme") and is traditionally regarded as one of the year's most important Jiéqìs, comparable to Chinese New Year. Rather confusingly, the character 至 may also mean "arrival" in other contexts, but it is clear that the Chinese consider "winter's arrival" (立冬 lì dōng, literally "establishment of winter") to be a separate Jiéqì which falls on or around November 7 instead. The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar formed by combining a purely lunar calendar with a solar calendar. ... The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; The Extreme of Winter) is one of the most important Jiéqìs celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. ... A Jiéqì is one of 24 points spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic used by all traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons. ... Chinese New Year (Chinese: 春節, 春节, ChÅ«njíe; 農曆新年, 农历新年, Nónglì XÄ«nnián; or 過年, 过年, Guònián), also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. ... A Jiéqì is one of 24 points spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic used by all traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ...

The winter solstice is the time when the Germanic festival of Yule was celebrated; it is celebrated today as a Neopagan Sabbat. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Festivus, Kwanzaa, and HumanLight. In her fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin calls the solstice celebration "The Festival of Sunreturn". (See also List of winter festivals) Yule is the winter solstice Blót (celebration) in Ásatrú, the pagan practices of the Germanic peoples prior to the arrival of Christianity. ... Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism) describes a heterogeneous group of new religious movements which attempt to revive ancient, mainly pre-Christian and often pre-Judaic Indo-European religions. ... In neopaganism, a Sabbat is one of the eight major seasonal festivals which make up the Wheel of the Year. ... Yaldā is celebrated on the eve of the first day of the winter in the Iranian calendar, which falls on the Winter Solstice. ... Saturnalia (from the god Saturn) was the name the Romans gave to their holiday marking the Winter Solstice. ... Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Karachun, Korochun or Kračún is a Slavic version of Halloween as a day when the Black God and other evil spirits are most potent. ... Hanukkah (חנכה ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה ḥănūkkāh) is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of lights. ... Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) holds the aluminum pole his family has used in past Festivus celebrations to Jerry Seinfeld (played by himself) Festivus is a nondenominational holiday featured in an episode of Seinfeld, a popular American television sitcom of the 1990s. ... United States Postal Service Kwanzaa stamp Kwanzaa is a week-long, African American holiday observance held from December 26 to January 1. ... Official HumanLight logo Celebrant-created logo featuring alternate compounding. ... Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... List of winter festivals: This is an incomplete list of festivals and holidays that take place during the winter in the northern hemisphere, especially those commemorating the season. ...

The solar term Dongzhi in Chinese astronomy

Dongzhi (冬至) is a solar term begins when Sun lies between the celestial longitude of 270° and 285°. It sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. It usually begins around December 22, and ends around January 6. A Solar term is one of 24 days in the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars that match a particular astronomical events or signify some natural phenomenon. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Daxue (大雪) is a solar term begins when Sun lies between the celestial longitude of 255° and 270°. It sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun exactly at the celestial longitude of 255°. Introduction Daxue usually begins around December 7, and ends around December 22. ... A Solar term is one of 24 days in the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars that match a particular astronomical events or signify some natural phenomenon. ... Xiaohan (小寒) is a solar term begins when Sun lies between the celestial longitude of 285° and 300°. It sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun exactly at the celestial longitude of 285°. Introduction Xiaohan usually begins around January 6, and ends around January 20. ...

External links

• The seasons begin at the time of the solstice or equinox (from the Bad Astronomer)
• Winter Solstice (in Celtic mythology)
• Solstice does not signal season's start? (from The Straight Dope)
• Solstice Dates and Times