Cool days, long nights ahead

MANILA, Philippines – Expect cooler days and longer nights ahead with the onset of the “ber” months as the Earth reaches the so-called “winter solstice,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

In its astronomical diary for September, Pagasa said the winter solstice or equinox will start on Sept. 23.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the beginning of a shift in the season from autumn to winter.

“This date will mark the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere where the Philippines belongs and the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere (vernal means spring),” the weather bureau said.

Pagasa said because the sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes.

According to Pagasa, during the winter solstice, the North Pole tilts away from the sun.

Countries within the northern hemisphere could then observe that the sun stays low in the sky, which signifies that days are shorter and nights are longer and cooler. – Helen Flores