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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.
The equinox and solstice define the transitions between the seasons of the astronomical calendar and are a key part of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Equinox. The Equinox in the Northern...
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
Learn how Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun cause the equinoxes and solstices, the moments when day and night are equal or longest. Find out when they occur in different hemispheres and on other planets.
Jun 19, 2024 · Learn about the longest day of the year, why it changes date, and how it affects daylight hours across the UK. Find out the difference between astronomical and meteorological summer, and whether it means hotter weather.
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. Winter solstice (December 21 or 22): shortest day of the year, marking the start of winter.
Jun 20, 2024 · The summer solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. Learn about the science, history, and culture of this astronomical event, and how it's marked around the world.
