Topline
The Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night of the year occurs on Sunday, Dec. 21. As well as marking the beginning of astronomical winter, it sees the sun rise late, remain low throughout the day and set early. It also sees the sun’s rising and setting points on the horizon at their most extreme as it comes to a standstill — in Latin, solstice.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, at sunrise, circa 2013. (Photo by English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The December solstice takes place at 10:03 a.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, according to Timeanddate.com.
With the sun rising late and setting early, daylight will total only eight or nine hours in many parts of North America, with the sun on its lowest solar arc of the year.
In December, Earth’s northern axis is tilted away from the sun to its maximum extent, with the midday sun hanging over the Tropic of Capricorn, a line 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Earth’s axis tilts by 23.5 degrees.
December’s solstice sees the sun rise at its farthest southeast on the horizon and set at its farthest southwest, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
December’s solstice marks the moment the sun reaches its most southerly point in the sky, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn — pictured here in Namibia.
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Winter Solstice And The Tropic Of Capricorn
December’s solstice marks the moment the sun reaches its most southerly point in the sky, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, an imaginary line at about 23.5 degrees south of the equator that runs through South America, Africa, and Australia. The Tropic of Capricorn is the most southerly point on Earth where the sun can appear directly overhead.
Its name comes from the constellation that the sun was in during the winter solstice around 2,000 years ago. The sun is presently in the constellation Sagittarius during December’s solstice, so it’s more accurate to call it the Tropic of Sagittarius.
In June, Earth’s northern axis is tilted toward the sun to its maximum extent, with the midday sun hanging over the Tropic of Cancer, a line 23.5 degrees north of the equator.
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