Astronaut Ivan Vagner captured from ISS the sunrise on Winter Solstice. The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (December 21 or 22) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (June 20 or 21). Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rites.

Credit: Ivan Vagner, Roscosmos

Reference: Ivan Vagner’s Tweet
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