Baton Rouge Reporter

The December solstice took place at 09:17 UTC, marking a significant astronomical event. At this time, the South Pole of Earth is tilted toward the Sun, which reaches its southernmost position in the sky and aligns directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Solstices occur twice annually. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice happens around June 20-21, while the winter solstice occurs around December 21-22. During these times, depending on one's location on Earth, the Sun's path appears farthest north or south.

The tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun remains constant at approximately 23.5 degrees. This axial tilt results in seasonal changes as Earth travels around the Sun. At the December solstice, indirect sunlight leads to cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere and direct sunlight causes warmer temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere. The situation reverses during the June solstice.

For locations north of the equator, like those in the United States, this solstice brings about shorter days and longer nights. Conversely, locations south of the equator experience longer days and shorter nights.

Following this winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, daylight will gradually increase until reaching a peak during the summer solstice on June 21, 2022. The March equinox on March 20 will signal spring's start, while September's equinox on September 22 will mark autumn's onset.

Ancient cultures recognized shifts in daylight length and solar positioning throughout each year. Monuments such as Stonehenge in England and Torreon in Machu Picchu were constructed to track these solar movements.

In contemporary times, our understanding of these celestial events has deepened. The solstice is celebrated as an astronomical phenomenon resulting from Earth's axial tilt and orbital motion around the Sun.