Winter will officially begin in just a few hours. According to astronomical calculations, the winter season starts on Sunday, December 21, marking the beginning of the winter solstice, the coldest season of the year.
This season will last for 88 days, 23 hours, and 41 minutes.
The start of winter coincides with the winter solstice, a phenomenon that occurs due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its movement around the Sun.
The Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees, which causes the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to alternate in receiving sunlight.
This axial tilt, not the distance between the Earth and the Sun, is the main reason for the occurrence of the four seasons.
On the day of the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, and the Sun appears to reach its southernmost point in the sky.
As a result, all locations north of the equator experience daylight lasting less than 12 hours, while regions south of the equator enjoy daylight longer than 12 hours.
Not all regions of the world experience a normal sunrise and sunset on the day of the winter solstice.
Areas north of the Arctic Circle at latitude 66.5 degrees north do not witness sunrise or sunset, as the Sun remains below the horizon throughout the day.
In contrast, regions within the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66.5 degrees south experience continuous daylight, with the Sun staying above the horizon all day.
This phenomenon is known as the Midnight Sun and is one of the clear indicators of the Earth’s spherical shape.
After the Sun reaches its apparent southernmost position during the winter solstice, it appears to rise from nearly the same point in the sky for several days.
It then gradually begins its apparent movement northward again due to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
As a result, daylight hours will slowly begin to increase until day and night become equal during the spring equinox, which will occur on March 20, 2025.
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