Why December 21 will have longest night of the year?

As the year nears its end, a celestial occurrence signifies a significant shift.

Falling on December 21, 2023, in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night.

At this moment, Earth's axial tilt is 23.4 degrees farthest from the sun, with the North Pole angled at its maximum distance.

This tilt, about 23.4 degrees, results in scant sunlight over the hemisphere, creating the briefest path through the sky and the least daylight. Cultures worldwide have revered this prolonged darkness for centuries.

In 2023, the solstice not only inaugurates winter but also prompts reflection on the cyclical nature of seasons. As the sun reaches its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere, it signifies a turning point where the decline in daylight hours reverses, ushering in a promise of increasing light. 

The prolonged darkness during the winter solstice is attributed to the Earth's tilt, with the Northern Hemisphere leaning away from the sun. 

This results in oblique sun rays, longer shadows, shorter days, and the longest night of the year is a contrast to the summer solstice's extended daylight hours in the same hemisphere.