Night Sky
Winter Solstice 2026: Why December 21 Is the Shortest Day of the Year
The 2026 winter solstice falls on Dec. 21 at 20:50 UTC (3:50 p.m. EST). Why Earth's tilt makes it the shortest day, and why sunsets get later before it.
Space, Earth and the natural world, explained.
The 2026 winter solstice falls on Dec. 21 at 20:50 UTC (3:50 p.m. EST). Why Earth's tilt makes it the shortest day, and why sunsets get later before it.
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