The term "solstice" comes from the Latin solstitium, from sol (Sun) and stitium (still or stopped), indicating the fact that on the solstice, as seen from Earth, the Sun tends to stop moving" in the sky as it reaches its northern or southernmost point for the year.
When is the Summer Solstice 2024?
Summer Solstice or June Solstice 2024 occurs on Friday June 21 at 09:01 a.m. IST. This date officially marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when Earth reaches the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its most angled toward the Sun, resulting in the calendar year’s longest day and shortest night. The term "longest day" refers to the lengthiest period of daylight. The Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at its most direct angle of the year during the June solstice.
Summer Solstice 2024 Timings
Summer Solstice Sunrise - [05:24 AM]
Summer Solstice Sunset - [07:22 PM]
Summer Solstice Day Duration - [13 Hours 58 Mins 11 Secs]
Summer Solstice Previous Day Duration - [13 Hours 58 Mins 11 Secs]
Summer Solstice Next Day Duration - [13 Hours 58 Mins 10 Secs]
Summer Solstice Explained
The June solstice, also known as the summer solstice, occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun reaches its peak and northernmost point in the sky. In the northern half of the globe, it signals the start of summer. In comparison, the Southern Hemisphere’s June solstice is when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky, marking the beginning of winter.
The Sun seems to change course and head back in the opposite direction after the solstice. The motion referred to here is the apparent direction of the Sun, for example at local noon, as one sees its location in the sky at the same time per day. Its course forms a sort of flattened figure eight, called an analemma, over the year. The Sun itself does not, of course, move. Instead the tilt of the Planet’s axis as it orbits the Sun, as well as the Earth’s elliptical, rather than circular orbit, creates this shift in place in the sky that we see on Earth.
Astrological Importance of Summer Solstice
To avoid any misunderstandings June Solstice (Northern Solstice) and December Solstice are preferred names (Southern Solstice). Summer Solstice is alternately referred to as Aestival Solstice.
Tropical Dakshinayana is regarded as the Summer Solstice in Hindu astrology. Sidereal Dakshinayana, however, begins from Karka Sankranti - Asurakal begins from this day onwards, which is not good for beginning auspicious work.
Is Summer Solstice 2024 The Year’s Longest Day?
Indeed the day with the longest duration of sunshine is the Summer Solstice. Note how at the solstice, the Sun is highest in the sky; its rays touch Earth at a more direct angle, causing the powerful warmth we call summer. Because on this day the Sun is highest in the sky, you will find that at noon your shadow is the shortest it will be all year long. When the Sun crosses the local meridian, the local noon is the peak for the day in the sky.
Does the Solstice Always Occur on the Same Day?
The June solstice is not determined by a specific calendar date or time; it is determined by the Sun’s northernmost point from the equator. As a result, the solstice will not always fall on the same day. At the moment, it alternates between June 20, 21, and 22.
Summer Solstice 2021 In Different Languages
| English: | Summer Solstice |
|---|---|
| French : | Solstice d’été |
| Italian : | Solstizio d’estate |
| German : | Sommersonnenwende |
| Hindi : | उत्तरायण |
FAQs
1. Does the solstice bring early sunrise?
Although the day of the solstice has the most daylight hours of the year, the earliest sunrises of the year occur before the summer solstice. The exact timing will depend in part on your latitude: In the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs about a week earlier than the June solstice. The reason for the timing of sunrises is related to the inclination of the Earth’s rotational axis and Earth’s elliptical (rather than circular) orbit.
2. Does the Sun set slowly on the solstice?
Yes, the Sun actually sets more slowly around the time of a solstice, in that it takes longer to set below the horizon. This is related to the angle of the setting Sun. The farther the Sun sets from due west along the horizon, the shallower the angle of the setting Sun.
3. Is there a relation between summer solstice and the winter solstice?
Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator, so the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa.
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