Winter solstice occurs today at 00:44HST. Today the Sun will occupy the most southerly position in the sky of the year. The term solstice comes from the Latin terms Sol (the Sun) and sistere (to stand still). On this day the Sun seems to stand still as it stops moving southwards each day and begins move to the north. This is the first day of winter as marked by many cultures in the northern hemisphere. Alternately, this is the first day of summer for those folks in the southern hemisphere.
| 2016 Solstices and Equinoxes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT | HST | |||
| Perihelion | Jan 2 | 22:49UT | Jan 2 | 12:49HST |
| Vernal Equinox | Mar 20 | 04:30UT | Mar 19 | 18:30HST |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 20 | 22:34UT | Jun 20 | 12:34HST |
| Apehelion | Jul 4 | 16:24UT | Jul 4 | 06:24HST |
| Autumnal Equinox | Sep 22 | 14:21UT | Sep 22 | 04:21HST |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 21 | 10:44UT | Dec 21 | 00:44HST |
| Source: USNO data Services | ||||
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