Today's Image

Long midday shadows, near solstice, in Greece

Posted by

Deborah Byrd

and

December 22, 2015

View larger. | Midday sun on December 18, 2015 as captured by Nikolaos Pantazis in Athens, Greece.

Nikolaos Pantazis posted this photo to EarthSky Facbook. He wrote:

Midday (almost) winter solstice sun, over the Acropolis of Athens, Greece.

This photo illustrates a cool fact of nature, which is that – for us in the Northern Hemisphere – your longest noontime shadow comes around the time of the December solstice. That’s because, for us in this hemisphere, the sun is making its lowest arc across the sky around now.

In the Southern Hemisphere? Then look for your noontime shadow, anyway. It’s your shortest noon shadow of the year.

Bluesky Facebook Threads Buffer

Posted

December 22, 2015

in

Today's Image

Deborah Byrd

View Articles

About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.