Longer, chilly nights ahead -- Pagasa
Notice a drop in temperature and longer nighttime ahead, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
"Our night time is actually starting to grow longer, signifying the earth's journey towards the winter solstice," Elmer Escosia, an astronomer at the Pagasa said.
During the winter solstice, the north pole tilts away from the sun. Countries within the northern hemisphere will observe that the sun stays low in the sky, hence the days are shorter and the nights are longer and colder, he added.
"At daytime, the sun will look as if it is standing still on the horizon. Solstice literally means standing still," he said.
On December 22, we will have a full 13 hours of night time, Escosia said.
In the northern hemisphere, winter solstice marks the beginning of a shift in the season from autumn to winter.
The longer nocturne hours also gives stargazers longer time to enjoy watching the constellations, particularly the winter triangle.
The winter triangle is a landmark of the winter night sky and is formed by the brightest night sky star, Sirius, the giant star, Betelgeuse, and the brightest star in Canis Minor, Procyon.
At this time, the winter triangle is already visible in the early evening sky, Escosia said.
(PNA)