The summer solstice isn't necessarily the hottest day of the year, but it is when we have the most sunlight.
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Every June, the Northern Hemisphere reaches a celestial milestone: the summer solstice. It’s the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer.
What is the meaning of ‘the summer solstice’? The solstice — and our seasons — owe it all to the way Earth tilts, in comparison with its planetary siblings.
How long does summer last, exactly? It depends on how you define “summer.” There are two main ways to mark the seasons:
Astronomical summer starts at the summer solstice and ends at the fall equinox — usually around Sept. 22 or 23. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun.
Meteorological summer, which weather scientists use, runs from June 1 to Aug. 31. Meteorological seasons are much more closely tied to the calendar system and divide the seasons into quarters in the year.
Read on ... to learn how far Earth is from the sun.
Every June, the Northern Hemisphere reaches a celestial milestone: the summer solstice. It’s the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer.
But what causes this seasonal shift, and why does the sun behave so differently on this day?
What is the meaning of ‘the summer solstice’?
The solstice — and our seasons — owe it all to the way Earth tilts, in comparison with its planetary siblings.
Our planet rotates on a tilted axis, about 23.5 degrees off vertical — while “normally, planets should orbit with their axis straight, so they rotate in the same way that they revolve around the sun,” said Andrew Fraknoi, instructor at the Fromm Institute of the University of San Francisco.
So what happened to the Earth that explains this difference? “Astronomers now think that our planet got hit by another world, very early in the history of the solar system,” wrote Fraknoi. “And, like many accident victims, it couldn’t straighten out again.”
Due to this tilt, as Earth orbits the sun, different parts of the globe receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This tilt is the reason for our seasons.
On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere leans most directly toward the sun. That means more direct sunlight and the longest stretch of daylight hours — up to 15 hours overall — for the year. Near the North Pole, the sun doesn’t set at all — a phenomenon known as the midnight sun.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere in regions inside the Antarctic Circle, it’s the exact opposite. At this time, they experience their winter solstice, during which the South Pole experiences a polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon for at least 24 consecutive hours.
Why does the date of the summer solstice change each year?
You might notice the solstice doesn’t fall on the same day each year. That’s because our calendar system doesn’t perfectly match Earth’s orbit.
The Gregorian calendar has 365 days, but the Earth actually takes about 365.25 days to orbit the Sun. That extra quarter-day is why we have leap years — and why the solstice shifts between June 20 and June 21.
How long does summer last, exactly?
It depends on how you define “summer.” There are two main ways to mark the seasons:
Astronomical summer starts at the summer solstice and ends at the fall equinox — usually around Sept. 22 or 23. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun.
Meteorological summer, which weather scientists use, runs from June 1 to Aug. 31. Meteorological seasons are much more closely tied to the calendar system, and divide the seasons into quarters in the year.
Because Earth moves in an elliptical orbit and not a perfect circle, seasons aren’t all the same length around the world. According to timeanddate.com, Northern Hemisphere summer averages 93.6 days, while Southern Hemisphere summer lasts about 89 days.
This illustration shows the illumination of Earth during various seasons and its movement around the Sun.
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iStock
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How far is the Earth from the sun?
During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, Earth is actually at its farthest point from the sun. This point, known as aphelion, occurs a couple of weeks after the solstice.
This year, aphelion will fall on July 3, when Earth will be about 94.5 million miles from the sun, according to timeanddate.com. The opposite — perihelion — happens in early January, when Earth is closest to the sun.
However, the difference in distance doesn’t significantly affect seasons. It’s the tilt, not the distance, that drives our weather changes.
Is the summer solstice the hottest day of the year?
No. Even though the solstice brings the most daylight, it’s not usually the hottest day. That’s due to seasonal lag — the time it takes for Earth’s land and oceans to absorb and release heat, according to the Royal Meteorological Society.
Our planet’s water-covered surface (about 70%) soaks up energy slowly, meaning peak summer temperatures typically arrive in July or August. Last year, the hottest day globally was July 22.
Historically, researchers believed that these extended hours of daylight helped plants schedule growth. A new study has shown that although the day of the summer solstice may serve as a key cue for plant growth and reproduction, climate change may disrupt this timing.
