+ A
A -
DOHA: The Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) has announced that the astronomical start of winter will occur on Saturday, Dec21 this year.
Known as the Winter Solstice, this day marks the official end of autumn and the beginning of winter according to astronomical definitions.
The astronomical calendar is based on the Earth's 23.5° tilt of its rotational axis as it orbits the sun. On this day, the sun aligns perpendicularly with the Tropic of Capricorn.
The Winter Solstice is an astronomical event that signifies the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, with no sunrise or sunset occurring at the Arctic Circle.
