This graphic shows the Earth's postition on its orbit around the sun on October 1st with colors that indicate the northern hemisphere's seasons. Meanwhile we have arrived at autumn which causes far reaching reactions in nature. The days are shorter than the nights (SF, Athens, Tokyo: 11h50 to 10h40 / Zurich, Montreal, Portland: from 11h40 to 10h / Oslo, St. Petersburg, Anchorage: from 11h23 to 8h35) and at the same time the sunlight angle decreases another 11° this month - which also shifts the direction in which the sun rises / sets considerably (depending on the latitude). As our planet is closer to the sun now it flies faster (according to Kepler's law): shorter way and higher velocity means less time for this "half" of the orbit: our winter half year is about 1 week shorter than the summer half year.
