December 22 marks the year’s shortest day, the Winter Solstice. On this day, the northern hemisphere experiences its briefest span of daylight—lasting only 10 hours and 41 minutes—while the night extends to 13 hours and 19 minutes.
This phenomenon occurs due to the Earth’s axial tilt, positioning the Sun farthest from the northern hemisphere.
The northern hemisphere receives minimal sunlight during the solstice, resulting in shorter days and longer nights. Conversely, the southern hemisphere enjoys its longest day of the year.
As the Earth continues its orbit, daylight hours in the northern hemisphere gradually increase from June 21 onward, signaling the start of summer.
By Rajin Saleh
Photo: Polash Shikdar
