December 21 is shortest day and longest night of 2024

The winter solstice in 2024 falls on December 21 at 05:21 p.m., marking the year's shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere.

On its website, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) wrote that the celestial event happens when the sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, in the constellation of Capricornus at a declination of 23.5°S.

“Astronomers consider this day as the start of winter in the northern hemisphere, and summer in the southern hemisphere,” it said.

Other remaining astronomical events for December are the Ursid meteor shower on 22, Moon at Apogee and Mercury at Highest Altitude in the Morning Sky on 24, and Mercury at Greatest Elongation West on 25. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News