Friends, we have lived through the shortest day of the outgoing year. The longest night is ahead. But the previous one was actually the same — the difference is microscopic.
The shortest day in Moscow on the winter solstice is only 7 hours. The night is all the time remaining in the day... Although, after all, there is also twilight. According to various estimates, evening and morning twilight lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. And there are 3 types of twilight: "Civil", "Navigational" and "Astronomical". Modern man knows even less about the differences between them than about how the winter solstice differs from the summer one. But this is only because most people do not need it. It got dark — it means that the twilight is over, the night has come.
The night takes almost 16 hours from the Moscow winter days. There is more to the north of Moscow — for example, in St. Petersburg 17, and in Murmansk all 24 hours — there is a polar night.
But the best part is that from this date every next day will become longer until March 20 equals the duration of the night. Although here, too, this comparison will be very conditional.
The world is full of conventions.
For example, today, from the point of view of astronomers, the astronomical winter has begun. It has been snowing for almost a month, but the astronomical winter does not coincide with the climatic or calendar winter.
Meanwhile, there are really important components of life. It can be cold outside the window, but if the soul is warm, you will not be afraid of any frost. The darkness and length of the winter night will not frighten you if you live with a kind attitude to the World. And Spring will come very soon if you do not wait for her with folded hands.
These abilities are not determined by science, are not described in numbers, but it is they that fill our life with happiness.
And happiness can be found even in winter. Even on the longest winter night.
