Hello and happy winter solstice, on Wed., Dec. 21, 2022.  This is the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the Sun spends the least possible amount of time giving those of us in the Northern Hemisphere heat and light. 

This seasonal effect is happening because, billions of years ago, planet Earth got hit by a large mini-planet, tilted to one side, and, like many accident victims, never got to straighten out.  Because Earth is irrevocably tilted, we alternately tilt into the Sun’s direction (summer) and tilt out of the Sun’s direction (winter) as we orbit the Sun.  Planets like Venus, who didn’t suffer an accident like this, do not have a tilt and do not have significant seasons.

The good news is that after Dec. 21, the days will get longer and the darkness shorter.  After two years of pandemic and world-wide difficulties, perhaps our next orbit around the Sun will be a better one for our planet and all of us.  That’s my wish for all my readers.