Day: December 21, 2007

The Sun finally reaches its southernmost point in the sky at precisely 1:08 AM EST early tomorrow morning (Saturday December 22ND) when it shines directly over the Tropic Of Capricorn. At that precise moment it will then begin its 6-month journey northward again.

It’s the First Day Of Winter tomorrow all across the Northern Hemisphere – and the First Day Of Summer south of the Equator.

From this past Tuesday December 18TH through next Tuesday December 25TH the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky for the year at its peak altitude above the horizon – 41.1° due south – at around 12:20 EST each day here in Homestead Florida.

We’re down to 10 hours and 33 minutes of daylight (from sunrise to sunset) here in Homestead. That makes it our shortest day / longest night of the year.

Our earliest sunset of the year (5:30 PM) actually occurred back on November 29TH and 30TH. Since then the Sun has been setting just a tiny bit later each day (5:36 PM tonight). Our latest sunrise of the season (7:09 AM) is still nearly a month away. It won’t start to get lighter earlier in the morning until January 21ST 2008 !

So enjoy the longer days starting tomorrow – just a tiny bit each day at the end of each day.