Fri Dec 20 08:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Earliest Winter Solstice in Over a Century Marks Start of Astronomical New Year
**Taipei, Taiwan** – This year’s winter solstice, occurring on December 21st at 5:21 PM, marks the earliest occurrence of the event since 1896. The Taipei Astronomical Museum explains this early arrival is due to the intricacies of the calendar system and slight shifts in Earth’s rotational axis, a phenomenon known as precession. While this astronomical quirk is noteworthy, it has no practical impact on daily life.
The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, signifies the sun’s journey to its southernmost point, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. In Taipei, this translated to a sunrise at 6:35 AM, approximately 26 degrees south of due east, and a sunset at 5:09 PM, about 26 degrees south of due west. It’s important to note that while the winter solstice brings the shortest day, the latest sunrise typically occurs in mid-January, and the earliest sunset around late November.
Beyond its astronomical significance, the winter solstice holds deep cultural meaning in Taiwan, marking the beginning of a new year, with the tradition of eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) symbolizing growing a year older. For detailed astronomical information, please visit the Taipei Astronomical Museum’s website or call the Taipei Citizen Hotline at 1999 (within Taipei) or 02-27208889 (outside Taipei).
First Piper 