The nights have been drawing in for what feels like forever at this point. Of course, in reality, it has only been since June, but it's been a long year, hasn't it?
The nights get longer and the days shorter until the winter solstice, a day that usually - but not always - lands on December 21 of each year.
From that day onwards, the days start getting longer again, and the nights shorter.
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When is the shortest day in 2021?
In 2021, the shortest day of the year is December 21. The solstice will occur at around 4pm.
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What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is the name given to the precise moment in time when our hemisphere reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. This has the effect of making the days shorter, the nights longer, and the sun's elevation in the sky lower.
Although the solstice technically refers only to that exact moment, the term has also come to be used for the day overall. The day is also known as "midwinter", though again this has other meanings.
In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21, but occasionally falls on December 22.
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