Thanks to the winter solstice, today marks the shortest day of the year.
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The sun will rise at 7.37am and set at 4.48pm.
QVMAG Planetarium technical officer Chris Arkless explained the winter solstice was an event that will occur at 8.51 this evening.
He said it marked one of the main turning points in the year, the others being the summer solstice and March and September's equinoxes.
``What's happening is the sun's approaching path through our sky is a line called the ecliptic, which is on an angle to the equator,'' Mr Arkless said.
``In the summer solstice the sun is furthest south of the equator and in the winter solstice it is the opposite, with the sun rising a long way north of east and west.''
Mr Arkless said tonight's event marked a positive change as the sun started to head south.
``If you live in the southern hemisphere, you will be jolly glad to know the sun is heading back in your direction,'' he said.
