1000 x 90

Winter Solstice and First Day of Winter is Today

The winter solstice happens today at 11:28 a.m. in the Northern Hemisphere and is “the day the Sun stands still” as it reaches its southern-most position at the Tropic of Capricorn. The Sun then “turns around” on its journey to the summer solstice, which happens this year on June 21st. Thursday December 21st is the first day of the winter season, which will last till the March Equinox on March 20th.

In Boone for the winter solstice the sun will rise at 7:34 a.m. EST and set at 5:15 p.m. EST – for a day’s length of 9 hours and 41 minutes and 40 seconds. On Friday the day is two seconds longer and will keep getting longer until the summer solstice on June 21st when the day length will be 14 hours and 37 minutes; and the sun will rise at 6:09 a.m. EDT and set at 8:47 p.m. EDT.

The winter solstice is when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest from the sun, making for the year’s longest night. Conversely, people living in the Southern Hemisphere will experience its summer solstice at the same time.