11
Things About the June Solstice
<span>June 21, 2018, is the longest day of the year in most time
zones in the Northern Hemisphere. Here are 11 facts you might not know about
the June solstice.</span>
June solstice is also called summer solstice.
1. Summer & Winter Solstice
<span>In the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of
the year in terms of daylight, the June solstice is also called the summer solstice.
In the Southern Hemisphere, on the other hand, it is the shortest day of the
year and is known as the winter solstice.</span>
2. First Solstice of the Year
<span>Solstices happen twice a year - in June
and December.
The June solstice happens around June 21, when the Sun is directly overhead the
Tropic of Cancer.
The December
solstice takes place around December 21. On this day, the Sun is
precisely over the Tropic of
Capricorn.</span>
3. When the Sun Seems to Stand Still
<span>Solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning Sun
and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the day
of the June solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost position, as seen from
the Earth. At that moment, its zenith does not move north or south as during
most other days of the year, but it stands still at the Tropic of Cancer. It
then reverses its direction and starts moving south again.</span>
The opposite happens during the December solstice. Then, the
Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky - Tropic of Capricorn - stands
still, and then reverses its direction towards the north.
Ten Things About the December Solstice
<span>4. It Occurs at the Same Time...</span>
<span>...all over the world. Technically, the June solstice is the
exact instant of time when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer.
In 2018, this will happen on June 21 at 11:07 UTC.</span>
2018 June solstice in your local time.
5. It Can be on June 20, 21, or 22
<span>Even though most people consider June 21 as the date of the
June solstice, it can happen anytime between June 20 and June 22. June 22
solstices are rare - the last June 22 solstice in UTC time took place in 1975
and there won't be another one until 2203.</span>
June solstice dates: 1 - 2149
6. It's the First Day of Summer...
The Maypole is a symbol of Midsummer
celebrations in Sweden.
...depending on who you ask. Astronomers and scientists use
the date of the June solstice to mark the beginning of summer in the Northern
Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For meteorologists, on the
other hand, summer began almost three weeks ago, on June 1.
How are seasons defined?
In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the day is
traditionally considered to be the mid-point of the summer season. Midsummer
celebrations on or around the Northern summer solstice are common in many
European countries.
7. The Earth is Farthest from the Sun
<span>One might think that since it is summer in the Northern
Hemisphere, the Earth is closest to the Sun during the June solstice. But it's
the opposite. The Earth is actually farthest from the Sun during this time of
the year. In fact, the Earth will be on its Aphelion
a few weeks after the June solstice.</span>
Is this timing a coincidence?
June solstice (Ill. not to scale).
The Earth's distance from the Sun has very little effect
over the Seasons on Earth. Instead, it the tilt of Earth's rotational axis,
which is angled at around 23.4 degrees, that creates seasons.
The direction of Earth's tilt does not change as the Earth
orbits the Sun - the two hemispheres point towards the same direction in space
at all times. What changes as the Earth orbits around the Sun is the position
of the hemispheres in relation to the Sun - the Northern Hemisphere faces
towards the Sun during the June solstice, thus experiencing summer. The
Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun and therefore enjoys winter during
this time.
