The summer solstice is here. What to know about the longest day of the year

[ad_1] Peak sunshine has arrived within the Northern Hemisphere — the summer time solstice.

Friday is the longest day of the 12 months north of the equator, the place the solstice marks the beginning of astronomical summer time. It’s the other within the Southern Hemisphere, the place it's the shortest day of the 12 months and winter will begin.

The phrase “solstice” comes from the Latin phrases “sol” for solar and “stitium” which may imply “pause” or “cease.” The solstice is the top of the solar’s annual march greater within the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The dangerous information for solar lovers: It then begins retreating and days will get slightly shorter day by day till late December.

Individuals have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments, together with Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the solar’s paths on the solstices. However what is going on within the heavens? Right here’s what to know in regards to the Earth’s orbit.

Solstices are when days and nights are at their most excessive Because the Earth travels across the solar, it does so at an angle relative to the solar. For a lot of the 12 months, the Earth’s axis is tilted both towards or away from the solar. Meaning the solar’s light and heat fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.

The solstices mark the occasions through the 12 months when this tilt is at its most excessive, and days and nights are at their most unequal.

Through the Northern Hemisphere’s summer time solstice, the higher half of the earth is tilted towards the solar, creating the longest day and shortest night time of the 12 months. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.

In the meantime, on the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the solar — resulting in the shortest day and longest night time of the 12 months. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

The equinox is when there may be an equal quantity of day and night time Through the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up in order that each hemispheres get an equal quantity of daylight.

The phrase equinox comes from two Latin phrases that means equal and night time. That’s as a result of on the equinox, day and night time final nearly the identical period of time — although one could get a couple of further minutes, relying on the place you're on the planet.

The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, relying on the 12 months. Its fall — or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.

On the equator, the solar can be immediately overhead at midday. Equinoxes are the one time when each the north and south poles are lit by sunshine on the identical time.

What’s the distinction between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are simply two alternative ways to carve up the 12 months.

Whereas astronomical seasons rely on how the Earth strikes across the solar, meteorological seasons are outlined by the climate. They break down the 12 months into three-month seasons based mostly on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring begins on March 1, summer time on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.