By Dean Murray

An incredible view of the winter solstice is seen from a brand-new satellite.

The US government's scientific weather forecasting agency NOAA captured the scene on Saturday (Dec. 21) from the GOES-19 spacecraft.

NOAA explained: "Currently positioned over the Western Hemisphere at 89.5° west longitude, between NOAA's GOES East and GOES West satellites, GOES-19 captured this celestial moment from space while undergoing post-launch testing.

"The winter solstice marks a special moment as the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. At precisely 4:21 a.m. EST, the Northern Hemisphere reached its maximum tilt away from the sun, positioning the sun directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, 23.5° south of the equator."

Launched on June 25, it is set to replace GOES-16 in the GOES East position this spring.

NOAA - short for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - is a scientific and regulatory agency charged with forecasting weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, charting the seas, conducting deep-sea exploration, and managing fishing and protection of marine mammals and endangered species.

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