In 2018, the December Solstice occurs on December 21 at 22:23 UTC (17:23 EST / 14:23 PST).
The Sun will be in its southernmost position in the sky for the year as viewed by folks in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning that it is the day with the least amount of sunlight for the year. So, folks in the Northern Hemisphere call this their Winter Solstice, signifying the official start of winter.
However, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, this means that the Sun will be at its northernmost point, and the day where one would experience the most daylight for the year. That makes it the Summer Solstice, or beginning of summer, for folks in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere.
For more information on this Solstice, check out EarthSky's dedicated December Solstice page.
The Sun will be in its southernmost position in the sky for the year as viewed by folks in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning that it is the day with the least amount of sunlight for the year. So, folks in the Northern Hemisphere call this their Winter Solstice, signifying the official start of winter.
However, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, this means that the Sun will be at its northernmost point, and the day where one would experience the most daylight for the year. That makes it the Summer Solstice, or beginning of summer, for folks in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere.
For more information on this Solstice, check out EarthSky's dedicated December Solstice page.
Date: Friday, 12/21/2018
