June solstice marks astronomical start of winter

4.57pm today (Wednesday, 21 June) marks the shortest day and the longest night in South Africa for this year’s Winter Solstice.

At this time, daylight is four hours and five minutes shorter than at the Summer Solstice on 21 December.

While the days will start to slowly draw out after today, the June solstice signals the beginning of astronomical winter.

A solstice occurs when the sun appears to reach its most northerly and southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the sphere on which they annually occur around 21 June and 21 December.

Source: sunrisesunsettime.org

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