Considering everything we've been through this week, it's hard to believe that Friday is the first day of winter.
The winter solstice occurs at 2:23 p.m. on the West Coast. It marks the longest night and fewest hours of daylight of the year.
The solstice is the moment when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun. Solar energy is greatest in the southern hemisphere; direct rays of the sun are over the Tropic of Capricorn. Depending how far away you live from the Equator, you will experience different lengths of daylight.
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Residents of Western Washington will get just under 8.5 hours of daylight on Friday.
If you're bummed about winter, there are at least a few things to look forward to this weekend. There will be a full moon on Saturday. The solstice and full moon occurring less than a day apart is something that won't happen again until 2029.
Plus, the Ursid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Meteors will be most visible in predawn sky between Saturday and Sunday.
If that doesn't lift your spirits, just remember that spring is only 89 days away.