So 22nd December is the shortest day (in UK). Does this also mean the sun is at its lowest position in the sky on the 22nd December? Or are those 2 events out of sync because the earth is tilted at 23 degrees?</p>
this says it's at its lowest point http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/earth/solsticescience.shtml</p> </p>
RE: this says it's at its lowest point I only just realised from that, that winter starts on 22nd Dec "Winter Solstice" ("started earlier inour house" - the wife). And that summer starts on the summer solstice and spring on the vernal equinox, etc. I should be sterilised.</p>
Also Presumably also the suns strength is at its weakest on 22nd Dec due to the angle the rays hit the earth. So, a week on Saturday I can look forward to days getting gradually warmer too? Or at least the heat from the sun becoming more powerful.
In about 13,000 years or so there'll be no shorter or longer days because as the Earth orbits the Sun it's wobbling on it's axis. Currently, if you extend a line from the south pole, through the Earth's centre to the North pole and then out into space it points to the star Polaris (in Ursa Major). In time, this axis point will migrate to point to some whare near the star Vega (which is currently almost overhead) - this process takes about 27,000 years and halfway along the Earth will be equatorially in line with the eliptic. So no seasons and equal day / night periods. I think.
Suzanne Vega found that star on her telescope. And Ursa Major, wasn't that John's wife? Sterilise me ...</p>
RE: Also The Northern Hemisphere has its Summer when the Earth is furthest away from the Sun and Winter when it is closest. Its the tilt that makes the difference (I think).
It happens like this On the 22 december the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, 23 and 1/2 degrees South of equator. Because the earth tilts at that angle it will go no further.</p> So, as Barnsley is 53 and 1/2 north, that means that the sun is 53.5 + 23.5 degrees away from us, ie 77 degrees. 90 minus 77 is 13. Therefore on the shortest day the sun can only rise to a maximum angle of 13 degrees in the sky at its highest point.</p> In summer, when the sun is overhead at 23.5 north, it is only 30 degrees away. 90 minus 30 = 60. The sun reaches 60 degs above the horizon in June. Just thought I'd share that.</p>
...and did you know due to eccentricities of Earth orbits and the changing cycle over time. Currently, S.Hemisphere summers are 6' warmer than N.Hemisphere summers. The Earth is closest to the Sun on January 3rd now.
I just thowt it were be kind to shortarses day...seems I been wrong all the time so now, after all this time , I can be nasty to the little buggers all year round yayyyyyy