Winter solstice occurs today
December 21 is the date when the longest night of the year occurs in Turkey. Today marks the night known as the winter solstice.
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The longest night in Turkey falls on December 21, known as the winter solstice. The winter solstice represents the day when the Sun reaches the Southern Hemisphere and descends to its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere. On December 21, the night lasts for the longest duration across Turkey. However, the length of the night on these dates may vary slightly depending on geographical location and climatic conditions.
Why December 21?
December 21 represents the winter solstice of the year in the northern hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, this date is the day when the Sun reaches its lowest point and the night duration is at its longest. This situation is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. As the Earth rotates around its axis at a tilted angle, this tilt is known for its effects on seasons and day lengths.
The winter solstice represents the moment when the Sun reaches directly to the Southern Hemisphere and descends to its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere. This situation causes days to be shorter and nights to be longer during the winter months in regions at northern latitudes. Since sunlight does not reach northern latitudes at a steeper angle, the light does not spread over a wider area, which leads to shorter days. Therefore, December 21 represents the longest night and the shortest day in northern latitudes.
Equinox dates
Solstices and equinox dates are important moments experienced during the Earth's rotation around the sun throughout the year. Here are some important solstice and equinox dates for the northern hemisphere in 2023:
- Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere): December 21, 2023 - The day when days are shortest and nights are longest in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere): June 21, 2023 - The day when days are longest and nights are shortest in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere): March 20, 2023 - Day and night are of equal length in the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins.
- Autumnal Equinox (Northern Hemisphere): September 23, 2023 - Day and night are of equal length in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn begins.