Santa Clarita is set to experience the shortest day of the year Friday due to the winter solstice, which will then be followed by the last full moon and meteor shower of 2018.

During the winter solstice, residents will be able to witness the sun at its most southerly position Friday at 2:23 p.m., while the Earth is tilted away from the sun, according to officials.

Due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis, each hemisphere experiences winter when it is tilted away from the sun and summer when it is tilted toward the sun.

Thus, while Santa Clarita may be experiencing the dead of winter in the northern hemisphere, it is the height of summer in the southern hemisphere.

The four seasons are determined by reference to both the winter and summer solstices and the spring and fall equinoxes, according to officials.

As day turns to night, residents under the evening sky will have the opportunity to see the “Ursids meteor shower,” which is expected to peak during the solstice Friday Dec. 21, and Saturday Dec. 22. The “Ursids meteor shower” is annually active between Dec. 17 and Dec. 24, according to officials.

Unfortunately, the bright light of the full moon may make it difficult to view the meteor shower, earning the nickname “The Cursed Ursids” for this year’s event from NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke.

In addition to experiencing the first of shorter days, residents can expect to witness the final full moon of 2018 on Dec. 22, otherwise known as a Cold Moon, according to NASA.

Though the moon will look full on the night of the winter solstice, the official time and day of the Cold Moon is Dec. 22 at approximately 9:49 p.m, according to CNN.

The next time a Cold Moon is scheduled to appear during a winter solstice is in 2029, according to officials.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.