What is a Winter Solstice?
by Owen Borville
December 18, 2018
Astronomy
A winter solstice refers to the astronomical phenomena that produces the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, a winter solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil, and northern South Africa. This year in 2018, the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice will occur at 5:22 pm Eastern Standard Time (New York) on December 21st.
In astronomical terms, the solstice occurs at the moment the earth's tilt away from the sun is at a maximum. Therefore, on the day of the winter solstice, the sun appears at its lowest elevation with a noontime position that changes very little for several days before and after the winter solstice. In fact, the word solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium or sol (meaning the sun) and stit, or stes (meaning standing).
The Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun once every 365 days, following an orbit that is elliptical in shape. This means that the distance between the Earth and Sun, which is 93 million miles on average, varies throughout the year. During the first week in January, the Earth is about 1.6 million miles closer to the sun. This is referred to as the perihelion. The aphelion, or the point at which the Earth is about 1.6 million miles farther away from the sun, occurs during the first week in July.
This fact may seem to contradict what we know about seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, but actually the difference is not significant in terms of climate and is not the reason why we have seasons. Seasons are caused by the fact that the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5°. The tilt's orientation with respect to space does not change during the year; thus, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in June and away from the sun in December, as illustrated in the graphic.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5° North, and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, and southern China. Because of the Earth's tilt, the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer near June 21st. For every place north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky and this is the longest day of the year. As stated above, the winter solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator and runs through northern Argentina, southern Brazil, South Africa, Madagascar, and Australia.
There are two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward or away from the sun, resulting in an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as equinoxes and occur near March 21st (Vernal Equinox) and near September 22nd (Autumnal Equinox). At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes.
The National Weather Service <www.weather.gov/abq/clifeatures_wintersolstice>
by Owen Borville
December 18, 2018
Astronomy
A winter solstice refers to the astronomical phenomena that produces the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, a winter solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil, and northern South Africa. This year in 2018, the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice will occur at 5:22 pm Eastern Standard Time (New York) on December 21st.
In astronomical terms, the solstice occurs at the moment the earth's tilt away from the sun is at a maximum. Therefore, on the day of the winter solstice, the sun appears at its lowest elevation with a noontime position that changes very little for several days before and after the winter solstice. In fact, the word solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium or sol (meaning the sun) and stit, or stes (meaning standing).
The Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun once every 365 days, following an orbit that is elliptical in shape. This means that the distance between the Earth and Sun, which is 93 million miles on average, varies throughout the year. During the first week in January, the Earth is about 1.6 million miles closer to the sun. This is referred to as the perihelion. The aphelion, or the point at which the Earth is about 1.6 million miles farther away from the sun, occurs during the first week in July.
This fact may seem to contradict what we know about seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, but actually the difference is not significant in terms of climate and is not the reason why we have seasons. Seasons are caused by the fact that the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5°. The tilt's orientation with respect to space does not change during the year; thus, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in June and away from the sun in December, as illustrated in the graphic.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5° North, and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, and southern China. Because of the Earth's tilt, the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer near June 21st. For every place north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky and this is the longest day of the year. As stated above, the winter solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator and runs through northern Argentina, southern Brazil, South Africa, Madagascar, and Australia.
There are two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward or away from the sun, resulting in an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as equinoxes and occur near March 21st (Vernal Equinox) and near September 22nd (Autumnal Equinox). At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes.
The National Weather Service <www.weather.gov/abq/clifeatures_wintersolstice>
When we study the movements of the heavens, including the planets and the stars, we are reminded of Biblical verses which explain the works of God:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. Genesis 1:1.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years...Genesis 1:14.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place...Psalm 8:3.
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. Psalm 104:5.
The positions and the movement of the planets and the stars are not a coincidence or a random development as the evolutionists and mainstream scientists believe but rather God set the planets and stars in place and in their orbit. The motions of the planets create our seasons and temperatures on earth and make the conditions for all life possible. Man has not found another planet in space that has the conditions for life and this fact is likely because God designated Earth to be a unique and special place to house the living creation that He made.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. Genesis 1:1.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years...Genesis 1:14.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place...Psalm 8:3.
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. Psalm 104:5.
The positions and the movement of the planets and the stars are not a coincidence or a random development as the evolutionists and mainstream scientists believe but rather God set the planets and stars in place and in their orbit. The motions of the planets create our seasons and temperatures on earth and make the conditions for all life possible. Man has not found another planet in space that has the conditions for life and this fact is likely because God designated Earth to be a unique and special place to house the living creation that He made.
