The Sky This Week, 2010 December 14 – 21 — Naval Oceanography Portal
The 21st also marks the beginning of the astronomical season of winter, with the Winter Solstice occurring at 6:38 pm on the 21st. This is the moment when the Sun reaches its southernmost declination in the sky and we experience the year’s shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. At this time the Sun stands directly over the Tropic of Capricorn over the remote islands of Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean. Gradually over the next few days, then more rapidly as the new year begins, Old Sol will climb back toward more northern climes. Spring is surely on the way!
The Sky This Week, 2010 December 14 – 21 — Naval Oceanography Portal