Summer Solstice Understanding the Longest Day
Lesson Overview
- Definition of the Word "Solstice"
- Midnight Sun in Arctic Regions
- Daylight Duration in Northern Locations
- Length of Seasons and Earth's Orbit Speed
- Exact Moment of the June Solstice
- Pagan Celtic Year and Lesser Holidays
- Daylight Loss After the June Solstice
- Date When Midnight Sun Ends
- Cultural Events Linked to the Summer Solstice
- Variability of Solstice Dates
The summer solstice is the day when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, resulting in the longest period of daylight in the year. This lesson explains the key facts about the summer solstice and its effects.
Definition of the Word "Solstice"
The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning "sun stands still." It describes when the sun appears to stop moving higher in the sky before changing direction. The summer solstice marks the longest day because the sun reaches its highest point at noon.
Example: On June 21, the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer and does not rise higher that day.
Quick Tip: Remember, "solstice" means the sun's path pauses before shifting.
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Midnight Sun in Arctic Regions
During the summer solstice, areas north of the Arctic Circle experience the "midnight sun," where the sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours. This happens because Earth's tilt keeps the sun visible even at midnight.
Example: In Utqiaġvik, Alaska, the sun does not set on June 21 and remains visible all day and night.
Quick Tip: In the Arctic Circle, the sun can shine continuously without setting.
Daylight Duration in Northern Locations
In places like Utqiaġvik, daylight does not shorten on June 21 because the sun never sets. The first sunset after this period occurs weeks later.
Example: Utqiaġvik loses zero seconds of daylight on the solstice and the sun sets next on August 2.
Quick Tip: Days stay very long or constant for weeks around the solstice in the far north.
Length of Seasons and Earth's Orbit Speed
Seasons differ in length because Earth moves faster or slower in its elliptical orbit. Summer is the longest season because Earth moves slowest then.
Example: Summer lasts about 93.6 days, longer than winter, which lasts about 89 days.
Quick Tip: Earth's changing speed affects how long each season lasts.
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Exact Moment of the June Solstice
The June solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer at a 90-degree angle. This is the northernmost point where the sun's rays hit straight down.
Example: On June 21, the sun's rays hit the Tropic of Cancer directly, causing the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
Quick Tip: The sun is highest over the Tropic of Cancer during the solstice.
Pagan Celtic Year and Lesser Holidays
The Pagan Celtic calendar includes four 'lesser' holidays, one of which is the Summer Solstice. Imbolc is not a lesser holiday.
Example: Lesser holidays include the Summer Solstice, Vernal Equinox, and Yule.
Quick Tip: The Summer Solstice is an important holiday in Celtic traditions.
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Daylight Loss After the June Solstice
After June 21, Northern Hemisphere locations like Anchorage start losing daylight slowly.
Example: Anchorage loses about 2 seconds of daylight on June 21.
Quick Tip: Daylight decreases gradually after the solstice.
Date When Midnight Sun Ends
The midnight sun ends when the sun sets again after continuous daylight. For Utqiaġvik, this is in early August.
Example: The sun next set in Utqiaġvik on August 2, 2017.
Quick Tip: The midnight sun ends weeks after the solstice.
Cultural Events Linked to the Summer Solstice
In ancient Greece, the summer solstice marked the start of the countdown to chariot races, an important cultural event.
Example: The solstice signaled the start of preparations for chariot races celebrated across Greece.
Quick Tip: The solstice linked to festivals in many cultures.
Variability of Solstice Dates
The summer solstice can occur between June 20 and 22 because of calendar differences and Earth's orbit. June 22 solstices are rare.
Example: The next June 22 solstice will be in 2203.
Quick Tip: Solstice dates vary due to leap years and orbit timing.
The summer solstice is the longest day when the sun stands highest in the sky. Understanding the solstice explains Earth's seasons, daylight changes, and related traditions.
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