The Winter Solstice

Today, December 21, 2008, is the day of the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. The actual Soltice event occured at 12:04 AM (UTC - Coordinated Universal Time). Today is the official beginning of winter.

A solstice is an Astronomical event that occurs twice a year - once in the summer, the longest day of the year, and once in the winter, the shortest day of the year. This is due to the fact that the tilt of the Earth on its axis is either greatest or least toward the sun, causing the sun to reach the northern or southern hemisphere. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun's apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill.

In another sense, the solstices along with the eqinoxes (which occur in the Spring and Fall) are representative of the seasons. In some languages, the solstices and exinoxes represent the changing of seasons, and in others they are said to be the center or midpoint of the season. It is also important to note that the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is Winter Soltice in the Southern, and that the Summer Soltice in the Southern Hemisphere would be the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

2009 Equinox and Solstice Days and Times
Equinox (Spring) March 20 11:44
Solstice (Summer) June 21 5:45
Equinox (Autumn) September 22 21:18
Solstice(Winter) December 21 17:47