By Brian Campued
Good news for night owls out there, because the universe will be in your favor, at least this Saturday: the December solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year among countries in the northern hemisphere, including the Philippines.
In its astronomical diary for December, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the winter solstice will occur at 5:21 p.m. when the sun reaches its highest southern position in the sky.
“This day marks the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, in the constellation of Capricornus at a declination of 23.5°S,” PAGASA said.
“Astronomers consider this day as the start of winter in the northern hemisphere, and summer in the southern hemisphere,” the agency added.
Derived from the Latin “sol” (sun) and “sistere” (to stand still), a solstice occurs twice every year—known as the summer solstice in June and the winter solstice in December.
On Dec. 21, sunrise was recorded at 6:16 a.m. while sunset will be at 5:32 p.m.
This is shorter by 1 hour and 43 minutes compared to the summer solstice back in June 21 when sunrise was at 5:28 p.m. and sunset was at 6:27 p.m.