The winter solstice – marking the longest night and fewest hours of daylight of the year – starts at 4:23 p.m. Central Time Friday.

The solstice happens when Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun. While those of us living on the Northern Hemisphere are seeing the shortest day of the year, those living on the Southern Hemisphere are seeing the longest day.

The solstice is extra special this year because it is followed by a full moon and meteor shower. The last full moon of 2018 will appear tomorrow. It is the first time since 2010 that the solstice and a full moon will be fewer than 24 hours apart. This will happen again in 2029.

The annual Ursids meteor shower is also expected to peak in the next several days.