Sky event, good from here

December solstice: the longest day

The Sun reaches its southernmost point. In Zimbabwe this is the longest day and the start of astronomical summer.

When: Monday, 21 December 2026, 22:50 CAT
From Zimbabwe: Good from here. Not something to observe directly, but a good day to notice how short your shadow is at noon.

The Sun in ultraviolet — Our star seen by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, showing hot, magnetically active regions. Never look at the Sun without a proper filter. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory, Public domain (NASA).

At 22:50 CAT on 21 December, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, its farthest point south. Across Zimbabwe the days are at their longest, about 13 hours in Harare, and the midday Sun is almost overhead. From now on the days slowly shorten until the June solstice.

Tips for watching

At midday, stand in the sun and look at your shadow: in Zimbabwe it is tiny and points slightly north or south depending on where you live. Never look at the Sun.

Times are Central Africa Time, worked out for Harare; other towns in Zimbabwe differ by a few minutes. Source: Computed for Harare with Astronomy Engine.

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