Today, June 21, is the first day of astronomical summer — also known as the Summer, or June, Solstice. To be completely accurate, the solstice occurs today, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 5:14 a.m EDT.
The solstice marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere — it occurs when the Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun. This results in the longest day (longest period of sunlight) and the shortest night of the calendar year.
The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium (from sol (Sun) and stitium (still or stopped).) Due to the Earth’s tilted axis, the Sun doesn’t rise and set at the same locations on the horizon each morning and evening — its rise and set positions move northward or southward in the sky as the Earth travels around the Sun through the year. During the summer solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky , at which point the Sun’s path doesn’t change for a brief period of time. After the solstice, the Sun appears to reverse course and head back in the opposite direction.
The timing of the summer solstice isn’t based on a specific calendar date or time — it all depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. So the solstice doesn’t always occur on the same day. Recently, it has shifted between June 20, 21, and 22.
During the solstice, the midday Sun is highest up in the sky, but the Sun’s highest point is getting lower and lower over time. That’s because the Earth’s tilt is slowly decreasing.
Today is the “longest day,” but it’s not the latest sunset — or — the earliest sunrise. The earliest sunrises happen before the summer solstice and the latest sunset after the summer solstice.
Today, the Sun rises farthest left on the horizon and sets at the farthest right —sunlight strikes places in your house that don’t get illuminated at any other time.
In India, the summer solstice ends the six-month period when spiritual growth is supposedly the easiest.
A few days from now, June 24, will be Midsummer Day. Historically, this day marks the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvest. In some cultures, it is traditionally known as one of four “quarter days.” Many years ago, folks celebrated June 24 by feasting, dancing, singing and preparing for the hot summer days ahead.
Enjoy the longest day — the days now start getting shorter….. and the nights longer.
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