Longest Day’s Light: Celebrating Summer’s Peak and Winter’s Start
One of the most important astronomical events of the year is the June Solstice, which happens around June 20th or 21st, and is the moment in which there is a particular change in the relation between the Earth and the Sun.
June Solstice Marks Season Shift With Longest Day, Shortest Night
One of the most important astronomical events of the year is the June Solstice, which happens around June 20th or 21st, and is the moment in which there is a particular change in the relation between the Earth and the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical summer.
In the Southern Hemisphere on the other hand, it is the Winter Solstice and it is the shortest day and a summer astronomical winter starts. The earth or Axial tilt is the direct cause of this celestial event. Our planet rotates on a similar tilt of about 23.5 degrees on the axis as compared to its sun orbit. Due to this tilt as the earth moves around its star during half a year, the Northern Hemisphere is facing the Sun and during the other half the direct sun rays go to the opposite side, the Southern Hemisphere.
At the December Solstice the Northern Hemisphere is most tilted towards the Sun. The outcome of this is that the Sun strikes with its rays most directly at Tropic of Cancer (around 23.5 degrees North latitude). As a result, locations in the Northern Hemisphere cannot be longer in the day and its sun angle is the highest throughout the year. The elevated sun angle implies that the energy of the sun is more recognized, resulting in warmer conditions in the morning yet the maximum heat of the summer seasons tends to occur a couple of weeks later in time because of the thermal recalcitrances of the oceans and continents. At latitude 66.5 North (just north of the Arctic Circle) there is no darkness Time with 24 hours of light a day is referred to as the midnight sun.
At the same time the Southern Hemisphere is tilting away from the Sun, having its furthest point away. In this case, rays of the Sun are the most indirect the day is the shortest of the year and the angles of the sun are the minimum. South of the Antarctic Circle (approximately 66.5 degrees South latitude) it is always dark.
The June Solstice has historically and culturally been incredibly important among cultures around the globe. It has been celebrated for thousands of years as times of abundance, fertility, renewal, and possibility especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Agriculture and hunter-gatherer societies paid careful attention to the Sun’s movement. Some specific stages of crop development occurred at the summer solstice, and many festivals and rituals honoring the Sun took place specifically at during the summer solstice and to establish a successful growing season. The dating of Stonehenge in England to the summer solstice sunrise demonstrates the astronomical sophistication of our ancestors.
Many of the June Solstice celebrations included references to fire, symbolizing the power and warmth of the sun. Bonfires were lit to banish evil spirits and bring new luck. Groups danced and feasted together to honour the time of peak light and of the full glory of the summer ahead. Many of these details have been preserved from ancient times, and now we see those remnants of celebrations, from the Midsummer festivals in Scandinavian countries to Indigenous people’s ceremonies to honour the Sun.
In our modern era, while the astronomical significance of the June Solstice remains, it also offers an opportunity to pause and engage in reflection. It’s a good opportunity for us to honour the Earths beautiful journey through space and the delicate balance of the seasons!
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