Why Jun 21 is year’s longest day, what is summer solstice?

June 21 is the year’s longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. It happens on the summer solstice.

The summer solstice is an astronomical event that occurs when the sun reaches its highest point. It is the time when the Sun travels the longest path in the sky. It occurs because the Earth is tilted to 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun.

With this, the summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, where about 90 percent population of the world lives. Consequently, people living in the Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, Canada, and the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark will have continuous sunlight and will see sunlight even at night.


On the other hand, June 21 is the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere, and it marks the beginning of the winter season for the people living there. About 10 percent of the world's population lives in this part of the world. For the people living in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa it is just the beginning of the winter season. In Antarctic Circle, there is no sunlight even in daytime in this region and it is called Polar night.

On the summer solstice, as the sun's rays are tilted northward from the equator, the vertical rays are overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. On the day of the summer solstice, the sunrays in the Southern Hemisphere shift towards the Tropic of Capricorn.

The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere brings the summer season, which ends with the equinox on September 22 or 23.

Thousands of people gather near Stonehenge in Britain to celebrate the summer solstice, they sing, dance, and enjoy with their family and friends.

FAQs:

Q1:What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice is an astronomical event that occurs when the sun reaches its highest point. It occurs on June 21.

Q2:Why June 21 is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere?
June 21 is the longest day because it is the time when the Sun travels the longest path in the sky. It occurs because the Earth is tilted to 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun.