December: The longest of nights and the shortest of days

December is the month the world has the annual phenomenon when the earth experience shorter days and longer nights. The sun will be directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during December and is close to the horizon than at any other time of the year.

When the North Pole tilted away from the sun, around -23.5 degrees, winter solstice happens and it is going to be the longest night every year.

Different countries around the globe experience different times. Article from The Telegraph tells that Britain experience the shortest day of the year equivalent to 7 hours and 49 minutes as well as the longest night with sun not rising until 8:04 GMT in the morning.

The Southern part of the world will experience early dawn and late dusk when the sun is high and shortest noontime happens. Places like Antarctica, Australia, almost all of south America, southern third of Africa and some southern islands of Asia, will experience longer days and shorter nights.

Meanwhile, Northern Hemisphere where the winter solstice has the shortest days and longer nights as the earth tilted away from the sun and receives the least amount of sunlight during the day. Places included part of the northern United States, Russia, Canada and all countries of Europe.

The Telegraph said that the solstice can happen on December 20, 21, 22 or 23, though December 20 or 23 solstices are rare. Moreover, the last solstice happens in December 23 was in 1903 and will not happen again until 2303.

The term "solstice" came from the Latin word, "solstinum", that means "Sun standing still". The Sun seems to stand still on this day at the Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its direction as it reaches its southernmost position.

According to Time and Date, solstices are opposite on either side of the equator. The winter solstice will be at the northern hemisphere as to summer solstice in the southern hemisphere.

Northern winter solstice will affect the countries of North America, Central America, Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

Winter solstice marks the first day of winter in USA and some other countries of the Northern Hemisphere. But still, the official day may also varies depending on the climate and whether they follow astronomical or meteorological seasons.