What is the winter solstice?

While the winter solstice is referred to as the shortest day and longest night of the year, it actually just means it is the day with the least amount of daylight hours.

That's because it's when the southern hemisphere is at its furthest tilt away from the Sun, meaning we get less sunlight.

At the same time, the northern hemisphere will be experiencing the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year.

This happens because the Earth tilts at about 23 degrees, meaning that when one side is closest to the Sun, the other side is furthest away.

As the Earth does a lap around the Sun each year, different parts of the planet get more sunlight than others.

The Earth's slight tilt is what gives us our seasons. (Bureau of Meteorology)