Solstice and equinoxes- special dates in astronomy. They mark the change of astronomical seasons. During the equinoxes, the Sun is at the celestial equator and therefore evenly illuminates the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth. On these dates (at the end of March and September), the day is equal to the night. On the days of the solstices, our daylight reaches the extreme points of its annual path through the sky - in summer it deviates 23.4 degrees north of the celestial equator, in winter - 23.4 degrees south. Therefore, in June, the Sun illuminates the northern hemisphere of the Earth more - and at the time of the solstice summer comes here - and at the end of December - the south, and at this time we have winter (and summer in the southern hemisphere).

So let's figure it out!

The change of day and night on Earth is continuous. But only 2 times a year - their duration is the same at all latitudes and is 12 hours - these are the days of the spring (March 21) and autumn (September 23) equinox). It is on these days that the Sun is at its zenith above the equator, and therefore the territories of the northern and southern hemispheres receive an equal amount of heat.

Also distinguish the shortest night of the year and the longest day of the year. This is the summer solstice. Which, in the northern hemisphere, falls on June 22, and in the southern hemisphere on December 22. Thus, in the northern hemisphere on June 22, the day is longer than the night at all latitudes, while in the southern hemisphere the day is shorter than the night! At this time, polar day and polar night are observed at the poles!

At the equator day is always equal to night! The angle of incidence of the sun's rays and the length of the day change very little.

The resource visually demonstrates the construction of the "Magic Dome" training model based on the geometry of the celestial sphere; shows the main elements of the celestial sphere studied in the school geography course; on a specific example, introduces the operation of the model and teaches how to enter variable parameters; includes a simulator that helps memorize the main elements of the model (celestial sphere)

Model with variable parameters. The resource allows, by changing the parameters of the model, to establish relationships between the geographical latitude of the place, the apparent movement of the sun above the horizon, the daily rotation and orbital movement of the Earth on the days of equinoxes and solstices; makes it possible to visualize the astronomical phenomena and processes that are difficult to understand in school courses and their consequences (change of day and night, change of seasons, etc.)

The sun influences the Earth quite strongly. The sun emits light and, as the earth rotates on its own axis, day and night are obtained. Sunlight brings heat which, with the rotation of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis (by 23.5°), causes the seasons to change. Most of the light and heat comes from direct sunlight.

sunlight

The rays of the sun at any time can only illuminate one half of the earth's surface. Sunlight equally reaches the North and South Poles only twice a year - September 23 and March 21 - the days of the equinox (Figure 1). On these two days, the direct rays of the Sun fall vertically on the Equator.
From September 23 to December 21, the rays of the Sun gradually expand their zone of impact on the Earth from the South Pole and recede from the North Pole. On December 21, the rays reach 23.5° beyond the South Pole (Antarctic zone) and are unable to reach the North Pole by the same 23.5° (Arctic zone). On this day, the area south of the Antarctic Circle (Antarctica) receives constant sunlight, while the area north of the Arctic Circle (Arctic) remains without sunlight. Try to analyze it with a globe. Find on the globe the Antarctic and Arctic Circles (parallels in the Northern and Southern hemispheres with latitudes of 66.5 °).
On December 22, the rays of the Sun cover the entire zone up to the Antarctic Circle and leave the zone of the Arctic Circle by 23.5° (Figure 2). And on June 21, the opposite is true - the rays completely leave the area of ​​the Antarctic Circle and illuminate the area of ​​the Arctic Circle. Now the South Pole is in darkness, and the North Pole receives constant sunlight (Figure 3). This explains the semi-annual day and night at the North and South Poles.
When the light falls directly on the Tropic of the North (23.5° north of the Equator), the day in the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum longer than the night (June 21).
When the light falls directly on the Tropic of the South (23.5° south of the equator), the day in the Northern Hemisphere is as short as possible at night (December 22).

The summer solstice is one of the notable, turning points of the year. Since ancient times, all the peoples of the Earth have celebrated the holiday of the peak of summer at the end of June. Common features of the celebration are the folding of fires, divination. This day had a special meaning in the ancient religions of many nations around the planet. Structures that make it possible to distinguish this day from other days according to the position of the Sun during the summer solstice are considered the oldest astronomical observatories and date back thousands of years.

For several days before and after the moment of the solstice, the Sun almost does not change its declination, its midday heights in the sky are almost unchanged (the height changes during the year according to a schedule close to a sinusoid); hence the very name of the solstice. From observations of the heights of the Sun during both solstices, the inclination of the plane of the ecliptic to the plane of the celestial equator can be determined.

On June 22, 2011, at 2:15 AM Fraternal Time, the Sun, moving along the ecliptic, will reach its greatest declination and astronomical summer will begin. In Bratsk, the Sun rises above the horizon to a height of more than 57 degrees. During the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, the Sun remains above the horizon for the longest time. June 21 and 22 are the longest days of the year. From 21 to 22 June - the shortest night. The longitude of the day at the latitude of Bratsk reaches 17 hours 41 minutes, and navigational twilight does not end at all.

Solstice - an astronomical phenomenon, which is the moment of intersection with the center of the Sun of the points of the ecliptic, the most distant from the equator of the celestial sphere (solstice points), or, in other words, the moment in the annual rotation of the Earth around the Sun, when the shortest day or the shortest night is observed.

There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, and then the shortest day (and the longest night) is observed, and the summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21, and then the shortest night (and the longest day) is observed. In the southern hemisphere, these dates fall, respectively, on the summer and winter solstices.

In mid-latitudes, during the year in spring and early summer, the Sun rises higher and higher above the horizon every day, and at the time of the summer solstice it stops and reverses its movement. Then it rises lower every day and finally, at the time of the winter solstice, reverses its movement again and begins to rise.

At the moments of the solstices, the Sun in its apparent movement along the ecliptic moves farthest from the celestial equator, reaches its greatest declination, northern or southern. Due to the leap year shift, the dates of the solstice in different years may differ by 1-2 days. In astronomy, the moment of the winter solstice is taken as the beginning of winter, and the moment of the summer solstice is taken as the beginning of summer. The astronomical longitude of the sun at these moments is 90° and 270°, respectively.

During the summer solstice, the Sun does not set above the latitude of 66.5 degrees at all, and the day lasts around the clock. This remarkable phenomenon allows the inhabitants of the northern strip of Russia to do without artificial lighting, practically around the clock. At the North Pole of the Earth, the Sun moves across the sky at the same height around the clock. In such a situation, it is very difficult to determine the time.

At other latitudes, the height of the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon can be calculated by the formula: Sun height \u003d 90 - latitude of the point + 23.5 (in degrees).

During the summer solstice, the Earth, as a result of the inclination of its axis to the plane of the ecliptic by 23 degrees, faces the Sun with its north pole. At the south pole at this time there is a polar night. There is a polar day at the north pole and circumpolar regions, which can be seen by rising above the Earth's pole and looking at the Earth from space.

June is the most unfavorable month for observations of faint objects, since the sky background remains bright even when the Sun is at its deepest below the horizon. However, this is the most favorable period for observing noctilucent clouds, which are precisely visible against the background of the twilight segment. But since mid-July, astronomy lovers can fully observe the sky during the greatest immersion of the Sun under the horizon.

December 21 (the date is indicated for 2016) is the day of the winter solstice. The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is at its minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer. The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is at its minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer. On the winter solstice, the sun rises to its lowest point on the horizon.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, which is when the shortest day and longest night occur. The moment of the solstice shifts every year, since the duration of the solar year does not coincide with calendar time.

In 2016, the winter solstice will occur on December 21 at 13.45 Moscow time

After the longest night of the year, which lasts about 17 hours, a real astronomical winter will come. The sun will descend as much as possible into the southern hemisphere of the sky, that is, moving along the ecliptic, it will reach its lowest declination. The longitude of the day at the latitude of Moscow will be 7 hours. The sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic. This means that after crossing the celestial equator, the luminary will begin its journey to the spring equinox.

During the winter solstice, the sun does not rise at all above a latitude of 66.5 degrees - only twilight at these latitudes indicates that it is somewhere below the horizon. At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the luminary can only be recognized by the constellations. On December 21, the sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, beginning its journey to the vernal equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.

Day of the winter solstice among the ancient Slavs

The winter solstice has been observed since ancient times. So, in Russian folklore, a proverb is dedicated to this day: the sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. According to the winter solstice, they judged the future harvest: frost on the trees - to a rich harvest of grain.

In the 16th century in Russia, an interesting ritual was associated with the winter solstice. The bell warden of the Moscow cathedral, who was responsible for the chiming of the clock, came to bow to the tsar. He reported that from now on the sun turned to summer, the day is added, and the night is reduced. For this good news, the king rewarded the headman with money.

The ancient Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year on the day of the winter solstice, it was associated with the deity Kolyada. The main attribute of the festival was a bonfire, depicting and invoking the light of the sun, which, after the longest night of the year, had to rise higher and higher. The ritual New Year's cake - a loaf - also resembled the sun in shape.

The day of pagan veneration of Karachun (the second name of Chernobog) falls on the day of the winter solstice (celebrated depending on the year from December 19 to 22) - the shortest day of the year and one of the coldest days of winter. It was believed that on this day the formidable Karachun, the deity of death, the underground god who commands frost, an evil spirit, takes his power. The ancient Slavs believed that he commands winter and frost and shortens the daylight hours.

The servants of the formidable Karachun are rod bears, in which snowstorms turn around, and blizzards-wolves. It was believed that, according to the bear’s desire, the icy winter also lasts: the bear will turn in his lair on the other side, which means that winter has exactly half the way to spring. Hence the saying: "At the Solstice, the bear in the den turns from one side to the other." Among the people, the concept of "karachun" in the sense of death, death is still used. They say, for example: “a karachun came to him”, “wait for a karachun”, “ask a karachun”, “grabbed a karachun”. On the other hand, the word "karachit" can have the following meanings - backing backwards, crawling, "scrambled" - writhed, crumpled. Perhaps Karachun was called that precisely because he, as it were, forced the daytime to go in the opposite direction, to back away, to crawl, giving way to the night.

Gradually, in the minds of the people, Karachun became close to Frost, who fetters the earth with cold, as if plunging it into a mortal sleep. This is a more harmless image than the harsh Karachun. Frost is simply the master of winter cold.

Winter Solstice in Other Nations

In Europe, these days began a 12-day cycle of pagan festivities dedicated to the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature.

On the day of the winter solstice in Scotland it was a custom to launch the sun wheel - "solstice". The barrel was smeared with burning tar and let down the street. The wheel is a symbol of the sun, the spokes of the wheel resembled rays, the rotation of the spokes during movement made the wheel alive and looked like a luminary.

The winter solstice was determined before all other seasons in China (there are 24 seasons in the Chinese calendar). In ancient China, it was believed that from this time on, the male force of nature rises and a new cycle begins. The winter solstice was considered a happy day worthy of celebration. On this day, everyone - from the emperor to the commoner - went on vacation.

The army was brought into a state of waiting for orders, border fortresses and trading shops were closed, people went to visit each other, gave each other gifts.

The Chinese made sacrifices to the god of Heaven and ancestors, and also ate porridge made from beans and sticky rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. Until now, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.

In India, the winter solstice - Sankranti - is celebrated in Hindu and Sikh communities, where bonfires are lit on the night before the celebration, the heat of which symbolizes the warmth of the sun, which begins to warm the earth after the winter cold.

The calendar of Russian folk signs will take December 21 (December 8, old style) - Anfisa Needlewoman

On this day, Saint Anfisa of Rome is commemorated, who suffered for the Christian faith in the 5th century. Anfisa was the wife of a Roman dignitary and professed Christianity (according to legend, she was baptized by St. Ambrose of Milan, whose memory is celebrated the day before). Once the wife of the mayor suggested that she accept Arian baptism (the Arian doctrine denied the unity of God the Father and Jesus Christ). Anfisa refused and, on the woman's slander, was burned at the stake.

On Anfisa, all girls in Russia were supposed to do needlework: spin, weave, sew, embroider. It was desirable to do this alone, and if it didn’t work out or didn’t want to retire, it was necessary to conduct special rituals from damage.

A girl sews on Anfisa, but an extra eye while sewing is for the evil eye, our ancestors said and advised young needlewomen to wrap a silk thread around their wrists so as not to prick their fingers with a needle. The same rite protected from yawning and hiccups.

The embroidery itself also had magic power, in which various symbols were often encrypted. So, rhombuses on towels meant fertility; round rosettes and cruciform figures on clothes protected its owner from misfortunes. In traditional embroidery patterns, there are also images of the sun, trees, birds, personifying the vital forces of nature. Our ancestors believed in their strength, believing that they would bring prosperity and prosperity to the house.

The calendar of Russian folk signs will take on December 22 (December 9, according to the old style) - Anna Zimnyaya. Anna Dark. The conception of Saint Anne.

The Church celebrates not only birth, but also conception. From the feast of the Conception of Anna, winter begins: autumn ends, winter begins. The beginning of a real harsh winter. In the meantime (lace) on the trees at the Conception of Anna for the harvest. If the snow rolls down to the hedge - a bad summer, and if there is a gap - a fruitful one. December 22 is the shortest day of the year, the day of the solstice.

On the Conception of Anna, pregnant women have a strict fast (on other days, pregnant women are exempted from fasting), avoid any quarrels and troubles, do not catch the eye of the crippled and disabled; you can not kindle a fire, knit, embroider and take on any work, so as not to accidentally harm the unborn child. People who are knowledgeable in these matters assure that the fire kindled on this day can leave a red mark on the body of the child, tangled threads twist his umbilical cord, and the wretched, ugly, seen by his mother, can pass on their injuries to the child. At the Conception, the wolves converge, and after Epiphany they scatter.

The memory of St. Anna, the parent of Mary, the future Mother of God, is celebrated twice a year: on August 7, a service is held in churches on the assumption of Anna, her death. December 22 - the day of the winter equinox, in the south of Russia is considered the beginning of winter. A change is also noticed in the weather: “Sun for summer, winter for frost.” On this morning, worship in churches is held more solemnly than on ordinary days, for December 22 is the day "when the Most Holy Theotokos is conceived."

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2017

• spring equinox - March 2010:29
• summer solstice - 21 June 04:24
• autumnal equinox - 22 September 20:02
• winter solstice - 21 December 16:28

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2018

• spring equinox - 20 March 16:15
• summer solstice - 21 June 10:07
• autumnal equinox - 23 September 01:54
• winter solstice - 21 December 22:23

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2019

• autumnal equinox - 23 September 07:50
• winter solstice - 22 December 04:19
• spring equinox - 20 March 21:58
• summer solstice - 21 June 15:54

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2020

• spring equinox - 20 March 03:50
• summer solstice - 20 June 21:44
• autumnal equinox - 22 September 13:31

1. December 22 Winter sun standing
   June 22 summer sun standing earth facing the sun north pole
   March 21 and September 23 the sun at noon at its zenith over the equator
2. 21st and 23rd equinoxes
3. And there is something like the day of the solstice, equilibrium or something else I don’t remember
4. I don't know about you but I don't know
5. It is most likely the solstice.
6. March 21 - the day of the spring equinox; June 22 - the day of the summer solstice; September 23 - the day of the autumnal equinox; December 22 - winter solstice
7. solstice
8. March 21 and September 23 are the spring and autumn equinoxes. June 22 and December 22 are the summer and winter solstices.
9. solstice days
10. wrong
11. equinox days.
12. oooh..
    complicated
13. In my opinion, the days of spring, summer and late solstice, if I'm not mistaken!
14. NOT PROILLY BOLBE DURAK
15. As you know, the Earth revolves in its orbit around the Sun. For us, people on the surface of the Earth, such an annual movement of the Earth around the Sun is noticeable in the form of an annual movement of the Sun against the background of stars. As we already know, the path of the Sun among the stars is a great circle of the celestial sphere and is called the ecliptic. This means that the ecliptic is a celestial reflection of the Earth's orbit, so the plane of the Earth's orbit is also called the plane of the ecliptic. The axis of rotation of the Earth is not perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, but deviates from the perpendicular by an angle. Due to this, the seasons change on Earth (see Fig. 12). Accordingly, the plane of the earth's equator is inclined at the same angle to the plane of the ecliptic. The line of intersection of the plane of the earth's equator and the plane of the ecliptic retains (if precession is not taken into account) an unchanged position in space. One end points to the vernal equinox, the other to the autumn equinox. These points are fixed relative to the stars (up to precessional motion!) and together with them participate in the daily rotation.

    Near March 21 and September 23, the Earth is located relative to the Sun in such a way that the boundary of light and shadow on the Earth's surface passes through the poles. And since each point on the surface of the Earth makes a daily movement around the earth's axis, then exactly half of the day it will be on the illuminated part of the globe, and the second half on the shaded one. Thus, on these dates, the day equals the night, and they are called the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes, respectively. The earth at this time is on the line of intersection of the planes of the equator and the ecliptic, i.e., at the points of the spring and autumn equinoxes, respectively.

    We single out two more special points in the Earth's orbit, which are called solstices, and the dates on which the Earth passes through these points are called solstices.

    At the point of the summer solstice, at which the Earth is near June 22 (summer solstice), the north pole of the Earth is directed towards the Sun, and for most of the day any point in the northern hemisphere is illuminated by the Sun, i.e. on this date the day is the longest in the year .

    At the point of the winter solstice, at which the Earth is near December 22 (the day of the winter solstice), the north pole of the Earth is directed away from the Sun, and for most of the day any point of the northern hemisphere is in the shade, i.e. on this date the night is the longest per year, and the day is the shortest.

    Due to the fact that the calendar year does not coincide in duration with the period of revolution of the Earth around the Sun, the days of equinoxes and solstices in different years may fall on different days (one day from the dates mentioned above). However, in the future, when solving problems, we will neglect this and assume that the days of equinoxes and solstices always fall on the dates indicated above.