Total Solar Eclipse
Totality crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain on 12 August 2026.
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About the winter solstice
The winter solstice is the moment the Earth's axial tilt is furthest from the sun in the northern hemisphere, producing the shortest period of daylight of the year.
It is a precise astronomical instant rather than a whole day, and simultaneously marks the summer solstice south of the equator.
Tags
- Solstice
- Astronomy
- Winter
- Shortest day
Frequently asked questions
The solstice occurs at 14:50 UTC on 21 December 2026.
It is the moment when the northern hemisphere is tilted furthest from the sun, producing the shortest day of the year.
No. It is a precise astronomical instant, though the whole calendar day is commonly referred to as the solstice.
Yes, slightly. It falls between 20 and 23 December depending on the year and the leap-year cycle.
The same instant marks the summer solstice south of the equator — their longest day of the year.
Related countdowns
Christmas Day 2026
Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday 25 December, giving most of the world a long weekend.
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