Countdown to Winter...11 Days Left Until Season Change

The countdown to winter is nearing its end with just 11 days remaining until the end of autumn and the official beginning of winter. Autumn, which began this year on Saturday, September 23, at 9:49 AM, marked by the sun's equinox directly above the equator, is now closing its 89-day cycle. Winter is scheduled to officially commence on December 22.

The winter solstice, occurring around December 22, signifies the official start of the winter season. On this day, the sun's rays fall perpendicularly on the Tropic of Capricorn (25 degrees south), creating a steep angle in the Northern Hemisphere and a near-vertical fall in the Southern Hemisphere, outside the Tropic of Capricorn. This results in shorter daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere, contrasting with the longer days in the Southern Hemisphere.

This astronomical phenomenon creates a distinct difference in seasonal patterns between the two hemispheres. The Solar Research Laboratory at the National Institute for Astronomical Research has provided precise calculations for the start and length of each season in 2024. According to these, spring will begin on March 20, 2024, lasting 92 days and 17 hours, while summer will start on June 20, 2024, for 93 days and 15 hours. Autumn is predicted to commence on September 22, spanning 89 days and 20 hours, and winter will begin on December 21, lasting 88 days and 23 hours.