Shortest day and longest night on Dec. 21 - PAGASA

Metro Manila, Philippines - The country will experience the shortest day and longest night on Saturday, Dec. 21, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Dubbed as the winter solstice, the agency said the phenomenon will occur at 5.21 p.m.

“This day marks the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, in the constellation of Capricornus at a declination of 23.5°S. Astronomers consider this day as the start of winter in the northern hemisphere, and summer in the southern hemisphere,” PAGASA said.

In 2023, the winter solstice was recorded on Dec. 22.