Today is the shortest day of the year, and that means tonight is the winter solstice: the longest night of the year.  Of course, this is true in the northern hemisphere, whereas in the southern hemisphere it’s all backwards.  That’s what they get for living upside down.

Anyway, the solstice begins at 00:22 GMT tomorrow, or 6:22 p.m. CST tonight.  Grab your party hats because it’s gonna be a grand ol’ time on the dance floors when this celebration gets cranked up.

Or you can be exceptionally weird and celebrate on December 25.  I really don’t get that, but whatever.

While we’re talkin’ astronomy, we’ll be nearest the sun (what’s called perigee) on January 3 (give or take the International Date Line from your local perspective).  I point out that tidbit for the astronomically challenged who believe winter is the result of our distance from Sol.  It ain’t.