Does the shortest day always fall on the twenty-first, or can it be affected by leap years, I ask this question because I have a calendar that says it was the twenty-second, so I mentioned this in the local cafe and was pounced upon by everyone.
2007-01-01 11:11:39 · 17 answers · asked by bo nidle 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
"There is no convienient arrangement to make a precise adjustment to our year every year so as they roll by the actual time of the of the Solstice actually becomes slightly early until adjustment of the leap year moves it back. The consequence of this is that a summer solstice on June 22 will gradually change to June 21 and earlier, a winter solstice from December 22 to December 21 and earlier."
looks like you are right
2007-01-01 11:16:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cant be precise, but I assume it changes every year, as does midsummers day something to do with a day being 23.934 hours long...
I know that midsummer's day 1990 was june 24th, though last year it was the 21st. So by this evidence, I would assume the shortest day changes also. and according to this link it does.
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html
I also know that in 1742 we lost a whole year due to the calendar change...maybe this has significance too.
I am not an astronomer
2007-01-01 11:13:54 · answer #2 · answered by ~☆ Petit ♥ Chou ☆~ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The shortest day of the year (or Winter equinox) can vary depending on the year because of the relationship between days, years and the sun. (Think leap years).
2007-01-01 11:20:09 · answer #3 · answered by Genevieve R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The shortest day can be either 21st or 22nd December.
The longest day can be either 21st or 22nd June.
It varies year to year.
In 2006 the shortest day was 22nd December
2007-01-01 12:08:30 · answer #4 · answered by mainwoolly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shortest day of the year is at winter solstice,
about 21 December for the northern hemisphere,
about 21 June for the southern hemisphere.
2007-01-01 11:23:28 · answer #5 · answered by Nutcracker 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It was the 22nd this last December, but I think most years it's the 21st. I honestly don't know why, but I wondered about it myself, because the longest day was the 21st June.
2007-01-01 11:21:12 · answer #6 · answered by Alison of the Shire 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It actually depends which line of latitude you are on. Our shortest day is actually around 27th December. The 21st is the winter solstice only if you are on the equator
2007-01-01 11:17:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It can vary between the 21st and the 22nd, but there is no connection with leap years.
2007-01-01 11:15:49 · answer #8 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It varies by a few hours but it is usually 21 or 22.
2007-01-01 11:19:16 · answer #9 · answered by Shayna 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All days are 24 hours long. Exactly. No day is shorter or longer than any other.
That said, the Winter Solstice is the day with the least amount of day light and the Summer Solstice has the most.
2007-01-01 11:18:22 · answer #10 · answered by nynameislying123 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋