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A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20-22 June and 20-22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.
Solstice, either of the two moments in the year when the Sun’s apparent path is farthest north or south from Earth’s Equator. In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Solstices. The farthest points from the equator where the Sun can appear directly overhead are referred to as the tropics. The tropics are lines of latitude that circle the Earth above and below the equator, at about 23.4 degrees north and south. This angle is set by Earth’s axial tilt.
Vernal equinox (about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring. Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): longest day of the year, marking the start of summer. Autumnal equinox (about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn.
- Alison Eldridge
Jun 21, 2023 · But what is the solstice? What does it mean for our day-to-day lives? Well the answer all boils down to orbits – the way Earth whirls and wobbles as it wends its way around the Sun.
- Jonti Horner
Mar 12, 2024 · A solstice is an event in which a planet ’s poles are most extremely inclined toward or away from the star it orbits. On our planet, solstices are defined by solar declination —the latitude of Earth where the sun is directly overhead at noon.
Jun 20, 2024 · What are solstices? Solstices occur because Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted about 23.4 degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun. This tilt drives...
