Summer Solstice: The Longest Day of the Year Is Coming Soon
The summer solstice, occurring on June 21, marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This event is celebrated with various cultural festivities, including traditional celebrations in Sweden and a parade in Seattle. The amount of sunlight varies by location, with places like Fairbanks, Alaska, experiencing nearly 22 hours of daylight.
- ▪The summer solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted at its maximum angle toward the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year.
- ▪In the Southern Hemisphere, the solstice marks the shortest day and the beginning of winter.
- ▪Different locations experience varying amounts of sunlight, with Fairbanks, Alaska, receiving up to 21 hours and 49 minutes of daylight.
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Forget the cold, dark days of winter. Sunday, June 21, is the longest day of the year, celebrated as the summer solstice. Technically, the solstice will arrive at 1:24 a.m. PT (4:24 a.m. ET) in the US. Here are some basic solstice facts.What is the summer solstice?As the Farmer's Almanac explains, the solstice occurs "when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt" toward the sun, or about 23.5 degrees; this translates to "the longest day and shortest night" of the year. (By "longest day," we mean the longest period of sunlight hours.) The Farmer's Almanac explains further that "on the day of the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year."The solstice isn't always on the same date.
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