People throng Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, UK, in the course of the summer season solstice
Graham Hunt/Alamy
Today, 21 June, is the June solstice. Also often known as the summer season solstice within the northern hemisphere and winter solstice within the southern hemisphere, the June solstice marks the time at which the solar is straight above the Tropic of Cancer.
This is the furthest north the solar reaches all year long, and it marks the northern hemisphere’s longest day of the 12 months, and the shortest within the southern hemisphere.
When is the June solstice 2023?
The solstice isn’t technically a day however a time. It often occurs on 21 or 22 June, and this 12 months it’s on 21 June at 15:57 BST.
What causes the June solstice?
Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted with respect to the aircraft it orbits across the solar, by 23.5 levels. This is why we now have seasons – throughout summer season within the northern hemisphere, the north pole is tilted in direction of the solar and through summer season within the southern hemisphere, the south pole is tilted in direction of the solar.
The June solstice marks the second in the course of the 12 months when the north pole reaches its most tilt in direction of the solar.
There is one other solstice in December, when the identical occurs for the southern hemisphere. The June solstice can be the start of astronomical summer season within the northern hemisphere.
What is astronomical summer season?
There are two methods to outline when the seasons start and finish – meteorological and astronomical. In the northern hemisphere, meteorological summer season begins on 1 June however astronomical summer season begins on the day of the June solstice.
How many hours of sunshine will I’ve on the solstice?
The variety of hours of daylight is determined by your latitude. At the June solstice, locations within the Arctic Circle have 24 hours of sunshine, whereas in tropical areas close to the equator the longest day is simply over 12 hours. The additional you might be from the equator, the extra dramatic the distinction in day size will get between winter and summer season. In the Antarctic, the solar gained’t rise.
Where does the title come from?
The time period solstice comes from two Latin phrases: sol, which means “sun”, and sistere, which means “to stand still”.
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Source: www.newscientist.com