When is southern hemisphere winter solstice

The other two are the Summer Solstices, and you may be unsurprised to learn that the four solstices are interconnected. While the Winter Solstice is occurring on Dec. Think about the imaginary "Earth pole" again. If the part extending from the Northern Hemisphere is pointed away from the sun, the part of the pole extending from the Southern Hemisphere points toward our star.

During the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the pole that extends from this half of the planet is pointed towards the sun. Thus in the Southern Hemisphere, that pole points away. This reflective almost mirror image nature extends into the phenomena surrounding the opposing solstices. The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, the Summer Solstice marks the longest period of sunlight.

Following the Summer Solstice, the days become increasingly shorter, just as the days become longer after the Winter Solstice. During the Summer Solstice, the sun appears at its most northerly in the sky, the Winter Solstice, as mentioned, sees it as its most southerly. Today we are aware of the astronomical events that lead to the solstices and their effect on the planet and we can imagine cosmic poles that impale our planet.

In the U. Likewise, thermometers hit their high in the U. Growth lines on fossil corals show that more than million years ago, days on Earth lasted less than 22 hours. Picture a figure skater twirling on their skates; they can speed up or slow down their twirls by how much they tuck in their limbs.

It lasted less than four milliseconds longer than the recent average. All rights reserved. What are solstices? The solstice through history. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars.

India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country. Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. In fact, many of the customs, lore, symbols, and rituals associated with Christmas are actually associated with winter solstice celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures. Here are some examples:. It marks the moment in time when the Old Sun dies at dusk on the 21st of December and when the Sun of the New Year is born at dawn on the 22nd of December , framing the longest night of the year.

The prehistoric monument, Newgrange built in Ireland around B. The site consists of a large circular mound with a stone passageway and interior chambers. When the Sun rises, the chamber is flooded with sunlight on the Winter Solstice. This was a festival observed in Scandinavia when fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning Sun. A Yule—or Juul —log was brought in and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god, Thor. In England, Germany, France, and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained.

The ashes were then collected and spread into the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night, or worn around the neck as a charm. French peasants would place the cooled ashes from the log under their beds, believing they would protect the house against thunder and lightning. The present-day custom of lighting a Yule log at Christmas is believed to have originated with these fires associated with the Feast of Juul.

In addition to the traditions from western cultures, the Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated as a time for the entire family to get together to celebrate the past good year. As ancient Chinese thought, the yang , or muscular, positive things will become stronger and stronger after this day, so it should be celebrated.

According to the astronomical definition , winter begins with the winter solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the December solstice ; south of the equator, it is the solstice in June. Meteorologists use a different method of defining the first day of winter. And, in some countries, the beginning of the seasons is determined by average temperatures rather than fixed dates or astronomical events.

Meteorological and other seasons definitions. Astronomical winter begins at the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year.