Spring!

(3.20.06)
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I'm a little late in posting this I know - I've been
a bit distracted. The winter solstice here - The
first day of winter was on December 21, 2005.
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Winter Solstice

The time of year in the Northern Hemisphere
when the noon Sun appears to be farthest south.
The winter solstice usually occurs on December
21 or 22 and marks the beginning of the winter
season in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Solstice,

in astronomy, term applied to either of the two
points in the ecliptic at which the Sun is farthest
from the celestial equator. The solstice north of
the celestial equator is called the summer solstice
because the Sun is usually at its greatest declination
on June 21 or 22 (at the beginning of summer in
the Northern Hemisphere); the solstice south
of the celestial equator, called the winter solstice,
usually occurs on December 21 or 22. The seasons
are the reverse of the above for people living in the
Southern Hemisphere. The term solstice means
“Sun stands still”; at these times the Sun changes
little in declination from one day to the next and
appears to remain in one place north or south of
the celestial equator.

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"Winter Solstice," & "Solstice" Microsoft® Encarta®
Online Encyclopedia 2005 http://encarta.msn.com
© 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights
Reserved.
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