Solstice sun to reach southernmost point.

[elleng]

The December solstice takes place when the sun reaches its southernmost point for the year. In 2016, it happens at 10:44 UTC on December 21. That means that, here in North America, the solstice falls in the early morning hours on December 21 (5:44 a.m. EST, 4:44 a.m. CST, 3:44 a.m. MST and 2:44 a.m. PST). Translate to your time zone here.

Looking at the world map below, you can see that the 2016 December solstice happens at sunset in Asia and Australia, the wee hours before sunrise in North America, sunrise in northwest South America and noontime in Europe and Africa.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/southernmost-sun-brings-december-solstice

[True Dough]

1. Thanks!

Always look forward to the days getting longer, even here in outer space!

[chillfactor]

2. so happy to see...

that the days will be getting longer again....I hate these short winter days.

[aidbo]

3. I'll be the pedantic one who points out that winter is actually coming, not going.

The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and end of Autumn. The spring equinox near the end of march will mark the beginning of spring. It is a common misconception that the days get shorter in winter, when in fact they get shorter starting from the summer solstice through summer and autumn until the winter solstice.

Im sorry, I can't help it.

[Callmecrazy]

4. Astronomically speaking, it's mid-winter...

Astronomers only recognize two seasons, summer and winter, and the seasons change at the equinox. So I'll be the noodge and call today mid-winter.
(I'm an amateur astronomer and full of useless information.)

[SCantiGOP]

5. All you need to know

Is that it is damn cold and I hate winter.