WE are getting close to the shortest day and the season where people start to talk about the evenings drawing out. I thought readers might like to know a few dates.

The shortest day will be December 21, length seven hours, 49 minutes and 45 seconds.

The latest dawn will be at 8:06am on the days between December 26 and January 4. 

The earliest dusk will be at 3:51pm on the days between December 10 and December 15.

Therefore the evenings will start to draw out on December 16 but the mornings will not start to get light earlier until January 5.

The times for dusk and dawn follow a sinusoidal [sine wave] pattern.

Times change most slowly at the time of the longest day – June – and shortest day – December – and quickest at the spring – March – and autumn – September – equinoxes.

– Herbie Renfield, Longhope.