Winter Solstice 2014, first day of Winter, today 12/21/14

Time Magazine/Science/Weather/Jack Linshi, 12/21/14.  "What you need to know about Winter Solstice 2014."

Ah, Summer and Winter on the planet

"Winter is coming... officially on Dec. 21, 6:03 P.M. EST. Winter solstice, falling this year on Sunday, Dec. 21, marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. More precisely, winter officially begins at 6:03 p.m. ET — the moment when the Northern Hemisphere is pointed at its furthest distance from the sun. This means winter solstice boasts the longest night and the shortest day, and often colder temperatures, too.

But the good news? If you’re not a fan of winter, from each day on after the solstice, the days will get longer and warmer until the calendar hits summer solstice, June 21, 2015. Summer solstice marks the first day of summer, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere."  Read article.

Related articles  -  The Independent, UK/Science/Emma Finamore, 12/21/14. "Winter Solstice 2014:  What is it - and why will mornings carry on getting darker?" "The  Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. It occurs when the sun's daily maximum height in the sky is at its lowest, and the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun. This results in the least number of daylight hours and the longest night of the year."

Huffington Post/Religion Editors, 12/20/14. "Winter Solstice 2014:  Shortest day of the year marked by Pagan celebrations." "In 2014, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on Dec. 21 at 6:03 p.m. EST. To calculate the turning point in your time zone, click here. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2015. The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light. ..."

Note: Summer and winter solstice graphic image by Peter Hermes Furian from Dreamtime.

Posted by Kathy Meeh