Here in the northern hemisphere we are about 40 days beyond the winter solstice. Does that mean that the sun is just about at the same angle as 40 days before the winter solstice? I have always thought it to be. Also since the earths orbit around the sun is eliptical. And the northern hemisphere has its winter while the earth is as close to the sun as it gets, while the southern hemisphere has its winter when the earth is as far as it gets from the sun. Does this help explane why the south pole has harsher winters than the north pole? Filix.