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The Earth is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees on its axis. This tilt means that different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
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During the Winter Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest away from the Sun, resulting in the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
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On the Winter Solstice, the Sun appears at its lowest point in the sky at noon. This is because the Sun's rays strike the Tropic of Capricorn directly, making the Sun’s arc smaller and daylight shorter in the Northern Hemisphere.
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While the solstice is often referred to as a day, it is technically a specific moment when the Earth’s axial tilt is at its maximum distance from the Sun. This moment marks the transition where days begin to grow longer.
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While the Northern Hemisphere experiences the Winter Solstice, the Southern Hemisphere has its Summer Solstice. This occurs because the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, receiving maximum sunlight.
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The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of astronomical winter based on the Earth’s position relative to the Sun. However, meteorological winter, which is based on weather patterns, starts earlier on December 1.
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Throughout history, many cultures observed the Winter Solstice as a turning point, celebrating the gradual return of longer days and more sunlight. These events often influenced rituals, calendars, and monuments such as Stonehenge.
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