Final answer:
Option 1.
The number of daylight hours on December 21 and June 21 as per the Old Farmer's Almanac and astronomical observations is approximately 9 to 10 hours for the former and about 15 hours for the latter in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of sunlight hours varies with the solstices, which occur approximately on December 21 and June 21. These dates represent the shortest and longest days of the year, respectively.
December 21 is known as the winter solstice and marks the day of the year with the least sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere, while June 21 is the summer solstice and has the most sunlight.
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, on December 21 (the winter solstice), there may be only around 9 or 10 hours of sunshine in the United States and Southern Europe.
On June 21 (the summer solstice), observers in the Northern Hemisphere of Earth can expect about 15 hours of sunlight.
Therefore, the correct option that reflects the number of sunlight hours on each solstice accurately is:
- Option 1: 5.5 hours on 12/21 and 19.5 hours on 6/21
However, the Old Farmer's Almanac and general astronomical data suggest that there are approximately 9 to 10 hours of daylight on December 21 and about 15 hours of daylight on June 21 in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, such as in the United States, not 5.5 and 19.5 hours respectively.
Therefore, none of the provided options are fully accurate based on the referenced material.
Typically, locations farther north would experience fewer hours of daylight in December and more in June, but not to the severe extent of the options provided.
Please mention the correct option in the final answer based on the Old Farmer's Almanac and astronomical standards is not listed among the choices.