What is the winter solstice? Here's what the day means, facts to know

Happy winter solstice day, or not.

For those loving the sunlight, Thursday was not a day to celebrate, as it marked the day with the shortest amount of daylight.

The good news is for the next six months, the daily hours of sunlight increase in the Northern Hemisphere.

What does the winter solstice signify?

It marks the point of the year when the path of the sun is farthest south in the sky, according to Space.com.

It's the shortest path the sun travels through the sky, resulting in the day of the year with the least hours of day and longest hours of night. When the winter solstice is taking place in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

This year, our winter solstice happens at 8:27 p.m. MT Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Why does this happen?

Earth’s axis has a tilt of about 23 degrees. If not for this, we wouldn't have a winter solstice or four seasons. The tilt of the Earth means as it moves around the sun, different areas of the planet experience varying degrees of sunlight.

Without the tilt, the sun would remain directly above the equator, meaning everywhere on the planet would receive the same amount of light all year.

How much sunlight does Fort Collins receive during the winter solstice compared to summer solstice?

On the winter solstice, Fort Collins sees 9 hours and 16 seconds of sunlight between sunrise (7:20 a.m.) and sunset (4:36 p.m.), according to Time and Date.

That's 5 hours and 49 seconds less sunlight than on the summer solstice of June 20, 2024, the longest day of the year.

The vernal (spring) equinox is the time of year when the number of daylight hours grows fastest.

In 2024, Fort Collins will see its first 7 p.m. or later sunset March 10, the day daylight saving time starts, and first 8 p.m. sunset May 5.

The city's latest sunset will be 8:35 p.m. June 25.

Does the winter solstice include the earliest sunset of the year?

No.

In Fort Collins, sunset was at 4:33 p.m. the first 14 days of December, or 3 minutes earlier than on Dec. 21. But the sun rose as much as 16 minutes earlier on Dec. 1 to 5 minutes earlier on Dec. 14 than on Dec. 21, so there was longer sunlight.

Astronomical winter is not the same as meteorological winter

Astronomical seasons are based on Earth's rotation. Meteorological seasons are based on seasonal cycles of temperature.

Astronomical winter lasts from the winter solstice, usually around Dec. 20-21, to the vernal or spring equinox, usually around March 20-21.

Meteorological winter goes from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28.