Sunday, December 21 in New York falls the winter solstice, that is the beginning of astronomical winter and the day with fewer hours of light of the year in the northern hemisphere. Solstice is a timely astronomical event: According to Farmer’s Almanac, in 2025 it happens at 10:03 in the morning, at the exact moment when the Earth axis tilts the North as far as possible from the Sun. It is this desire to determine the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Astronomical winter does not coincide with the weather, which by convention begins on 1 December and serves mainly for climate statistics.
In New York, on December 21, the sun rises at 7:16 and sets at 16:31, for a total of 9 hours and 15 minutes of light. It is one of the lowest values of the year for the city, which in June exceeds the 15 hours of natural lighting. Despite the data, the expected weather conditions are relatively mild: According to AccuWeather the day should be partially sunny, with a maximum temperature around 48 degrees Fahrenheit (about 9 degrees Celsius), then higher than that of the previous Saturday.
The winter solstice has been observed for thousands of years: some documented celebrations date back to the Neolithic, around 10,200 BC, as remembered by historical and archaeological reconstructions also spread by the History Channel. Today the event no longer has a direct agricultural significance for most people, but remains a symbolic and scientific reference in the calendar. From the day following the solstice, in fact, the hours of light begin to gradually increase until the summer solstice, scheduled for June 21, 2026, when the longest day of the year will be held.
L’articolo Tomorrow will be the day with less light of the year proviene da IlNewyorkese.
