Two minutes, seven seconds
DATELINE: Winter solstice 2021 No matter how you cut it, we are moving through some dark times these days. But, today marks a turning point, if only astronomically speaking. In the northern hemisphere, December 21st marks the winter solstice: the longest night and the shortest day…and hereafter, the days get longer and the nights get shorter. More daylight is coming: Hooray! Sure, it comes only minute by minute, but come it does. Look how those minutes add up, week by week (Winnipeg, MB data): Dec. 21, 2021: 8.09 hours of daylight + 1.28 sky = 9.37 hours total Dec. 22, 2021: 8.09 hours of daylight + 1.28 sky = 9.37 hours total (no change yet) Dec. 29, 2021: 8.15 hours daylight + 1.27 sky = 9.42 hours total = 5 minutes more January 5, 2022: 8.28 hours daylight + 1.26 sky = 9.54 hours total = 12 minutes more January 12, 2022: 8.48 hours daylight + 1.23 sky = 9.72 hours total = 18 minutes more January 19, 2022: 8.75 hours daylight + 1.21 sky = 9.96 hours total = 24 minutes more January 2