Shortest Day

[lancsdave]

I always thought 21st December was the shortest day. Apparently when next year is a leap year then Dec 22nd is the shortest day. I never knew that so thought I would share it with you

 

[entwisi]

I'm surpised it hasn't had any exposure

 

[jackyalex]

i knew it was, wish it was shorter its freezing

 

[grannyclaret]

i diddent know that either

 

[MargaretR]

This is an extract -
A quick look at sunrise and sunset times on successive days in March and September will show that the above dates do not coincide precisely with the times of equal day and night length. There is another factor to be considered which is that the orbit of the Earth around the Sun is an ellipse and not a circle. By Kepler's Law the Earth moves fastest when it is closest to the Sun (approximately 3 January each year) and slowest when it is furthest away (approximately 4 July ). This 'unequal motion' causes variations in the length of the solar day and in the times of sunrise and sunset. -
from this
Equinoxes and solstices : Time & timekeeping : Fact files : Learning : NMM

I'm not much wiser from reading it either

Happy Yule and Solstice folks

 

[WillowTheWhisp]

Well fancy that then.

I still prefer to think of the 21st of June and December as being the longest and shortest days. Somehow the number 21 seems most appropriate.

 

[lancsdave]

Well fancy that then.

I still prefer to think of the 21st of June and December as being the longest and shortest days. Somehow the number 21 seems most appropriate.

It also means the longest day is 20th June next year as well

 

[Stanleymad]

Can they not make school holidays shorter days & when they are at school longer days {wishful thinking} LOL

 

[cashman]

when ya get to my age, the longer days are the better.

 

[kathleen_firth]

Can they not make school holidays shorter days & when they are at school longer days {wishful thinking} LOL

only longer ays while there actually at school tho.... l.o.l