The summer solstice of 2024 is a phenomenon that occurs when the day lengthens as one travels from the Equator towards the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere. Here are some fascinating details about the year's longest day.
The summer solstice, observed on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, signifies the day with the most daylight hours and the year's briefest night.
Top Ten Fascinating Facts
Below is a compilation of intriguing facts about the year's longest day:
The phrase 'summer solstice' is derived from Latin, meaning "the sun stands still."
This event happens annually, once in each hemisphere.
The June solstice in the Northern Hemisphere typically falls between June 20 and 22, marking the longest day of the calendar year.
Conversely, the December solstice in the Southern Hemisphere usually occurs between December 20 and 23.
At this juncture, the Sun reaches its zenith. Specifically, one of the Earth's poles tilts towards the Sun at approximately 23.5 degrees.
Simultaneously, the Sun stands directly above the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5°N latitude, while the North Pole experiences its closest inclination towards the Sun.
As the summer solstice approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, day length increases from the Equator towards the North Pole.
In contrast, during the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice, day length diminishes as one moves from the Equator towards the South Pole.
The summer solstice's historical importance is highlighted by ancient civilizations' construction of monuments aligned with the solstices. For instance, Stonehenge in England and the Egyptian Pyramids were strategically built to align with the sunrise on the summer solstice.
This year, the summer solstice was globally recognized on June 20 at 4:50 PM EDT, as reported by NASA. The date also marked the 10th International Yoga Day.
The strawberry moon's alignment with this year’s summer solstice adds to the day's uniqueness.