Overview
- UNAM and NASA placed the solstice at 09:03 in Mexico’s Central Time, while Argentina’s Naval Hydrography Service set it at 15:03 official time.
- Stonehenge drew thousands for sunrise celebrations, with about 8,500 attendees reported as people marked the year’s shortest day in the north.
- In Spain, the National Astronomical Observatory noted winter began at 16:03 peninsular time and will last 88 days and 23 hours until March 20, 2026.
- Observatories highlighted near‑term sky events including the Ursids around December 22, the Quadrantids near January 3, full moons on January 3, February 1 and March 3, and two seasonal eclipses.
- Meteorologists stressed the difference between astronomical and meteorological seasons, with Spain’s Aemet expecting above‑average temperatures for December–February.