MUSCAT: The winter solstice phenomenon for this year 2024 begins today in the Sultanate of Oman, marking the first day of winter astronomically in the northern hemisphere. The phenomenon will start at 1:20 pm local time, bringing the longest night and shortest day of the year.
Wesal al Hinai, Vice-President of the Community Communication Committee at the Oman Astronomical Society, explained that today will have the shortest day and longest night. In Muscat, the sun will rise at 06:44 am and set at 05:25 pm, giving a day length of 10 hours and 41 minutes. This marks the start of the winter season, which will last for 88 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes.
The winter solstice occurs due to the tilt of Earth's axis and its movement in orbit around the sun. The Earth's tilt of 23.5 degrees results in the exchange of sunlight between the northern and southern hemispheres, leading to the solstice. Contrary to common belief, winter is not caused by the Earth's distance from the sun, as the Earth is closest to the sun during winter in the northern hemisphere.
During the solstice, the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, and the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. In some regions like the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise at all, while in the Antarctic Circle, the sun remains above the horizon all day, known as the midnight sun.
The winter solstice is characterised by the sun rising from the far southeast and its low apparent path, with shadows of objects at their longest during the year. It follows the autumnal equinox, after which the sun gradually moves southward, and the day length decreases. This progression reaches its peak during the solstice, after which daylight will begin to increase until the vernal equinox on March 20, 2025.
Al Hinai concluded by highlighting the Earth's dual movements: one around its axis every 24 hours, causing day and night, and the other around the sun, causing the four seasons.
After the solstice, the sun will appear to rise from a single point in the south for a few days before moving north again, leading to longer days until the vernal equinox.
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