Longest night of the year today

Today marks the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. On Sunday, December 21, all countries in the Northern Hemisphere will experience the longest night and the shortest day of the year.

Meanwhile, Monday will be the shortest day of the year. This phenomenon applies only to the Northern Hemisphere. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere will witness the opposite situation, with the longest day and the shortest night.

The longest night occurs due to the sun’s southward movement. On December 21, the sun is positioned over the Tropic of Capricorn. At this time, the Northern Hemisphere tilts slightly away from the sun, resulting in reduced sunlight, shorter days and longer nights.

From December onwards, the Southern Hemisphere begins to tilt towards the sun, while the Northern Hemisphere moves slightly away. As a result, winter prevails in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to reduced sunlight, days in the Northern Hemisphere appear to end more quickly.

This astronomical event is known as the winter solstice. As a result, December 21 brings the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere.