Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Tuesday, December 21st.  The sun will rise at 8:16.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05.   The moon, at full today, will rise at 5:37 this evening.

Today autumn will end and winter will start.  The exact moment will be at 6:38 this evening.  That’s when the sun will appear directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23 ½ degrees south latitude.  After that moment the sun will appear to inch northward.  Winter will end as the sun crosses the equator on March 20th next year.   The sun’s low appearance in our skies and the fewer hours of daylight now, due to the earth’s tilt has caused the rapid decrease in temperatures we are experiencing.  Unfortunately with the increased amount of solar heat we in the northern hemisphere will be getting starting tomorrow, it will take until mid January before the sun’s effect begins to show with warmer days.  It’s hard to believe but winter is the shortest season.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.