Shortest day of the year

TODAY THE EARTH IS TITLED FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE SUN

- Marizka Coetzer

• Event does not have direct effect on the weather, as it'll remain cold- meteorologist.

Late last night, the earth ushered in the shortest day of the year - the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere the time when, for South Africans, the sun is farthest away.

While some define this solstice as the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere-triggering all sorts of hippie and quasi-pagan celebrations at places like Stonehenge in southern England - it is the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere.

Vox Weather meteorologist Michelle Cordier, however, said they consider the start of winter weeks before the astronomical event today. She said 21 June was considered the longest night of the year but this year "the winter solstice is on 20 June [at 10.50pm]".

Cordier added: "Because the solstice moment is very close to midnight, both 20 and 21 June will be very much the same length, and we need to look at different time zones to determine which day is indeed the shortest.