Today marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year, as the duration of night reaches its peak in the Earth’s northern hemisphere.
According to astronomers, the longest night begins at 8:03 pm, making it the longest night of the year in the northern regions of the world.
In astronomical terms, this event is known as the winter solstice or northern solstice. It occurs when the Earth’s axis tilts farthest away from the Sun, causing longer nights and shorter days in the northern hemisphere.
This year, the winter solstice falls on the night and day of December 22. The event occurs every December, typically between December 20 and 23.
In Karachi, the night will last approximately 13 hours and 25 minutes, while the day will be about 10 hours and 35 minutes long.
This natural balance is the result of the Earth’s axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. The Earth’s axis is tilted at about 23.4 degrees. After the winter solstice, nights in the northern hemisphere gradually begin to shorten, and daylight hours start increasing.
Experts say this astronomical shift is an annual phenomenon that highlights the changing lengths of days and nights, with the effects becoming noticeable from December 22 onward.
