In 2024, that occurs March 19 at 11:06 p.m. EDT. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth with respect to the Sun as the planet makes its annual revolution around the closest star. The Earth is tilted approximately 23.5 degrees off a vertical axis, and because of this tilt, the most direct sunlight is aimed at the Southern Hemisphere during our astronomical winter. On the winter solstice in December, the Sun’s most