Today (December 21st, 2011) is the Winter Solstice, or shortest day of the year. Because of the axial tilt of our planet as it spins around the sun, this day marks the 24-hour period in which the Northern Hemisphere receives the least amount of sunlight, and coincidentally, warmth. Though the length of days will begin to increase from here, Winter will not be shaken so easily. We will not likely see a great deal of warming until the Vernal Equinox occurs, midway through March. Stay warm! (Click the image below for a larger version.)
The seasons, with a navel orange standing in for the sun. What better to use for Old Sol than something that gains a great deal from it?
