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winter solstice
(redirected from Shortest day)

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
winter solstice
1. the time at which the sun is at its southernmost point in the sky (northernmost point in the S hemisphere) appearing at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon. It occurs about December 22 (June 21 in the S hemisphere)
2. Astronomy the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the summer solstice, at which the ecliptic is furthest south from the celestial equator. Right ascension: 18 hours; declination: --23.5°

winter solstice [′win·tər ′säl·stəs]
(astronomy)
The sun's position on the ecliptic (about December 22). Also known as first point of Capricorn.
The date (December 22) when the greatest southern declination of the sun occurs.


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NZNO chose the shortest day, June 21, to mount protest action around the country at the continuing staff shortages in aged care, which are compromising care of the elderly, and to call for enforceable staffing levels in the sector.
The grid will be chalked in, like the lines on a baseball field, and the obelisk is expected to come down in six months, after marking the shortest day of the year in December when its shadow will be at its longest.
If someone stood in front of the disk and looked toward the platform on the shortest day of the year--the winter solstice--the setting sun would appear to sink into the platform.
 
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