Winter solstice approaching, expect longer nights and shorter days

MANILA, Philippines — The winter solstice is coming up, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year.

The sun will reach the winter solstice on December 22, 12:19 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PST), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its astronomical diary.

For the Philippines, Pagasa said this means “nights will be longer than the daytime.”

Winter solstice is when the sun is at its farthest point south of the equator, Pagasa explained.

It is likewise an indication that the Earth has completed another annual circuit around the sun.

This also marks the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

GSG