Happy Solstice

This is the day when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, and, in the northern hemisphere, marks the point at which the sun will begin to "come back" as the days grow longer. Today the folks at the north pole will not see the sun, and those at the south pole will not see the sun set. No wonder Santa makes his trek at this time of the year -- he's just searching for some Vitamin D!

People have celebrated solstice since they began tracking the movement of the sun throughout the year, and many holidays -- Yule, Saturnalia, Christmas, and the births of Dionysus, Osiris, and Mithra all occur at this time.

Today is a fine day for starting your photograph of the analemma, but there is no reason to try to stand an egg on end -- gravity and eggs are the same today as they will be the rest of the year, and gravity usually wins.

Happy Solstice, everyone!