Portland's solstice may not feel like the shortest day of the year after all
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) - The Winter Solstice is fast approaching, with animals settling in to hibernate and humans plugging in every light possible to stay awake past 5 p.m.
If you, like many Portlanders, find yourself struggling to see the bright side of short winter days, you may be wondering: How short will the shortest day of the year really be?
The answer is more complicated than you may expect.
According to the Old Farmers Almanac, the Winter Solstice on Dec. 21 will mark the day that the sun will reach its southernmost point in the sky to rise at 7:46 a.m. and set at 4:31 p.m. in Portland.
The exact time of the winter solstice is when the Earth's northern pole is tipped away from the sun. OMSI Director of Space Science Education Jim Todd said this year's event will take place at 1:20 a.m. PST with the sun sitting over the Tropic of Capricorn at a latitude of 23.5 degrees south.
But that doesn't mean it will feel like the shortest day of the year. In fact, the Old Farmer's Almanac reports that Portland will see the same 8 hours and 45 minutes of sunlight for six days in a row from Wednesday, Dec. 18 through Monday, Dec. 23.
Todd said this "hovering" effect is what gave the winter solstice its name.
"The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol-stadium, for sun-standing," he said. "The winter solstice is when the sun stops its southern climb and stands briefly before turning back toward the equator."
It's easy to feel impatient for days to begin lengthening once again. Historically, humans around the world have practiced rituals and ceremonies to honor the long night and encourage the sun's return.
"It is easy to see why our ancestors could be frightened by the sun's movements," Todd said. "They believed that if the Sun continued its journey south, the world would be plunged into eternal night. Winter solstice celebrations were so widespread in our Western culture that the early Christian church decided to move Christmas to the time of the solstice."
But with modern science, humans now understand that the sun will continue to rise and fall along with the seasons. Now the solstice simply marks the start of the winter season, which will last through March 20, 2025.
Sound miserable? Todd has a fresh outlook for those who yearn for long summer days.
"Look at the bright side: after December 21, the days will gradually grow longer and the nights shorter as Earth completes its yearly journey around the sun," he said.