Winter in the Northern Hemisphere will officially begin tonight at 8:27 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Scientifically, The Winter Solstice is when the sun’s rays shine directly down on the latitude 23°26′10.2″ South (or 23.43618° S). Better known as the Tropic of Capricorn.

Relationship of Earth's axial tilt to the tropical and polar circlesPhoto byNasa, Public Domain

The Tropic of Capricorn (aka the Southern Tropic) is a latitude that circles the Earth. It marks the December Solstice and is the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be seen directly overhead. Its northern counterpart is the Tropic of Cancer. Which marks the Summer Solstice in June.

At that moment, if you were located close or on the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun would be shining directly overhead. This also marks the beginning of summer for the Southern Hemisphere and winter for us.

A sign marking the Tropic of Capricorn as it passes through Namibia.Photo byPublic Domain

As the Northern Hemisphere moves around the Sun, during the winter months, our hemisphere experiences colder weather. Because the Earth's Northern Hemisphere is angled away from the Sun (see picture above). Where the South Hemisphere is angled towards the Sun.

This is due to the planet's tilted axis of 23.4°. Causing the days to be shorter and shorter the further north you travel. In turn, making December 21^st the longest night of the year for Colorado and the longest day for the Southern Hemisphere.

As the Earth moves further around the Sun, the day and night become equal in both hemispheres. This is called equinoxes.

How Much Daylight Do We Gain After the Winter Solstice?

The good news is starting Saturday, December 23, the days will start beginning to be longer and longer over the next 6 months. The Sun will be slightly higher and higher each day until Summer Solstice in June.

First the daylight gains are only seconds per day. As was get closer to June 21^st, the gains will steadily grow until daylight grows by about three minutes per day in March. The exact amount depends on your lateral location. See facts below.

University of Colorado Boulder Solstice Art

Close to Equinox at Chichen Itza, Mexico. Serpent's body appears down the staircase to the serpent's head.Photo byColorado Martini Publishing LLC YouTube

Humans have been tracking the solstices and equinoxes for millennia. From a Mayan Pyramid in Chichen Itza to the vast emptiness of Chaco Canyon in Northern New Mexico.

University of Colorado Boulder Solstice ArtPhoto byColorado Martini Publishing LLC YouTube

But did you know that you can find Solstice tracking art on the University of Colorado Boulder campus (CU Boulder)? The art piece is called Appositio and is located just east of the University Memorial Center. The artwork was created by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel back in the 1970's.

At noon during the Winter Solstice, the sculpture’s twin poles cast a spotlight on a mosaic eye in the courtyard between two parts of the Visual Arts Complex. The light approaches the center of the eye as the Winter Solstice approaches. Then the spotlight continues to move in a circular motion throughout the year. The rings also cast shawdows onto plaza below as the seasons change they move.

CU Boulder's solstice art.Photo byColorado Martini Publishing LLC YouTube

Fun fact about Winter Solstice 2023 in Colorado

• Your shadow will extend to its longest length.
• December 21st, 2023 has the fewest minutes of daylight in 2023.
• You will feel greater warmth on your skin going forward. Usually around mid January.
• The Sun set at its leftmost position of the year.
• Winter Solstice Sunrise - 07:17 AM.
• Winter Solstice Sunset - 04:39 PM.
• Winter Solstice Day Duration - 09 Hours 21 Mins 17 Secs.
• Winter Solstice Previous Day Duration - 09 Hours 21 Mins 20 Secs.
• Winter Solstice Next Day Duration - 09 Hours 21 Mins 18 Secs.