This season’s solstice occurs at 11:03 UTC, 6:03 Eastern Time. It’s winter in the northern hemipshere, summer in the southern.
Illumination of Earth by Sun at the southern solstice.
Etymology: Latin solstitium (sol “sun” + stitium, from sistere “to stand still”)
The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, its apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill.
– Solstice, Wikipedia
It’s clearly winter here. The past few days the high temperature has hovered around freezing, and skies have been overcast. Gray, cold days. There seems to be little light in the world at large, these days. Sometimes it’s enough to just hold out for warmer, greener days.
Dona nobis pacem / Let there be peace
This page has a little MIDI file which bangs out the tune so you can follow the score.
Related Content
2010: From Dark to Dark: Eclipse-Solstice Astro Combo
2009: Standing Still, Looking Ahead
2008: Stand Still / Dona Nobis Pacem
2007: Solstice (the sun stands still)
Links
Wikipedia: Solstice