20/06/2025
Are you ready for Summer Solstice
SUMMER SOLSTICE TOMORROW! – 21/06/21 🌎☀️🔥🌸🍄🍓🐸🌿🌾🐿️🦇🦌🦡✨
And so, a new season begins! While meteorological summer started on June 1st, the astronomical event known as the Summer Solstice occurs tomorrow (June 21st) marking the first day of astronomical Summer. For many of us in the Northern Hemisphere this day marks the changing of seasons here on Earth and the transition between Spring and Summer. For others it marks the midway point of Summer. It also marks midway through the year, midway between the two equinoxes and for many cultures around the world this is a time of celebration.
On the day of Summer Solstice those of us in the Northern hemisphere will experience the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year. The sun will rise roughly at 4:27 BST and will set at around 21:40 BST, meaning we'll enjoy approximately 17 hours and 13 minutes of daylight. The Sunrise and Sunset times will vary slightly depending on your location, so it is worth checking your local sunrise and sunset times if you'd like to go out and see them. Happy Summer Solstice for tomorrow everyone!
WHAT IS SUMMER SOLSTICE?
The Summer solstice marks the first day of the astronomical season of Summer. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun, whereas meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and climatological patterns observed on Earth.
This is also the day where we, in the Northern hemisphere, experience the most hours of daylight and the fewest hours of night-time. After the Summer Solstice, the amount of daylight we experience will gradually decrease until the Winter solstice on December 21st.
All that extra Sunlight means we are more likely to experience warmer temperatures for a period of time following the Summer Solstice too! And that sure does look to be the case this weekend!
EARTHS TILT – NORTHERN/SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES
The Summer solstice occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).
One important thing to consider when hoping to understand solstices better is that whilst those of us in the Northern hemisphere experience Summer solstice, those in the Southern hemisphere are experiencing the Winter solstice.
The reason for this is that due to the Earths tilt (of 23.5 degrees) the Northern and Southern hemispheres experience different amounts of sunlight, with one hemisphere experiencing more sunlight than the other due to it tilting towards the sun. Whilst the other hemisphere experiences less day light due to it tilting away from the sun.
Whilst one half of Earth is tilted as far away from the Sun as possible, the other half is pointed as close to it as possible.
Another way to describe the Summer and Winter solstices is when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point relative to the celestial equator. During the days around the Summer solstice the sun’s arc or path will appear higher in the sky than any other time of year.
WHY IS THE EARTH TILTED?
Most of us know that the Earth is tilted but why is this? The most agreed upon theory to explain why the Earth is tilted in relation to its orbit, is that around 4.5 billion years ago (very close to the start of our Solar System) a large planetoid named “Theia” collided with the Earth. It is thought that this collision is responsible for the tilt of the Earth and it is also thought that this event was responsible for the creation of the Moon!
MIDNIGHT SUN / ENDLESS NIGHT
The length of daylight in each hemisphere is not as cut and dry as a North/South hemisphere suggests either. Depending on how far North or South you are located, you will experience more or less sunlight throughout a day. During the June Solstice those further North will experience a longer day and more sunlight, whereas those further South will experience a longer night and less sunlight, and for those within the Arctic or Antarctic Circles the days can be so long or short that they experience endless sunlight or no sunlight at all!
During the June Solstice..
- The North Pole receives 24 hours of daylight, this is known as the “Midnight Sun”. In fact, the North Pole will receive 24 hours of sunlight for 6 months of the year between the March and September Equinoxes.
- The Arctic Circle receives 24 hours of daylight and also experiences the “Midnight Sun”.
- The Tropic of Cancer receives roughly 13 hours 35 minutes sunlight, and at noon the Sun will be directly overhead at the zenith.
- The Equator receives 12 hours of sunlight and this does not change throughout the year.
- The Tropic of Capricorn receives roughly 10 hours 41 minutes of sunlight.
- The Antarctic Circle receives only a hint of sunlight at noon.
- The South Pole has no sunlight and remains without sunlight for 6 months between the March and September equinoxes.
During the December solstice the above is reversed, and the Southern hemisphere enjoys Summer and the Northern hemisphere enjoys Winter.
WHEN IS SUMMER SOLSTICE
We often think of the Summer solstice as an event that spans an entire calendar day, but the solstice actually lasts only a moment. Specifically, it’s the exact moment when a hemisphere is tilted as close to the Sun as it can be. This year, the Summer Solstice occurs on June 21st at roughly 03:42 BST.
SEASONS ON OTHER PLANETS
Earth is not the only planet to experience solstices. Any planet that has an axial tilt experiences solstices as well as Earth. Scientists use these solstices to mark the seasons on other planets.
CULTURAL AND ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Many religions and cultures have given special reverence to the solstices both in the ancient past and in modern history.
For example, the Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, were built to align with the setting Summer Solstice sun.
We in the UK also have an ancient monument that is thought to be constructed with the significance of the solstices in mind; The circle and surrounding stones of Stone Henge. Every year thousands of people flock to Stone Henge to celebrate the Summer Solstice. During the sunrise of the Summer solstice, if you were to stand in the centre of the circle and look at the outlying stone known as the “Heel stone”, you would be looking at the rising sun.
This year the Summer Solstice celebrations at Stone Henge will be taking place over the evening of the 20th into the morning of the 21st of June.
The solstices are also a time for celebration, rituals and festivities for many other people around the world too. Throughout history, cultures have celebrated the solstice in different ways such as through the lighting of fires in an effort to recharge the Sun. From the Scots, to the Nords, this is a long-standing tradition. Many cultural and religious celebrations can be linked to the solstice’s astrological significance.
The Summer Solstice coincides with the start of the Cardinal zodiac sign Cancer. For many people, the solstices and equinoxes hold great astrological significance, marking the beginning of a new season and each corresponding to one of the four cardinal signs of the zodiac, also known as the cardinal axis. This axis is extremely important in astrology because it is where we find the powerful angles in something called a birth chart. These angles are points of energy manifestation that are thought to effect or even trigger major life events and are associated with qualities of initiative.
Often, from a soul perspective, the Summer Solstice is about celebrating the light, purification, and self-healing. As well as a time of transformation, inspiration, and growth. It’s a time to reflect on the light and dark that are both within each of us and the world around us. A time to appreciate and nurture everything positive around us, from nature, to family, to friends and importantly at this time of year, the impending harvests that will see us throughout the year.
Whether it’s an equinox or solstice, it’s about celebrating the start of something new. Each season having its own specific and unique job that we rely on. The equinox and solstice points are seen as sacred markers in time that help us connect the dots to the mystery behind the Earth’s never ending circle of life.
Whatever way you view or choose to celebrate the Summer solstice, we wish you a beautiful, happy, summer season!
FUN FACT!
How can we observe the effects of solstice ourselves? On the day of the solstice, if you were to stand outside at noon and look at your shadow. It’s the shortest shadow that you’ll cast all year! In fact, you will see almost no shadow! If you were to do this again on the day of the winter solstice you would see that you cast the longest shadow that you’ll cast all year!
WHAT DOES SUMMER MEAN TO YOU?
For many people, Summer often inspires much joy and happiness. Many rejoice that we experience more hours of daylight, warmer weather and all the growth, new life and abundance that the Summer Season brings.
However, for some people, particularly those for whom the long, dark nights are important (for example the astronomers and night lovers out there), they miss the truly dark skies of which we have not experienced for some time. For those people, they may rejoice in the knowledge that from here on in we will experience more and more night-time as each day passes. Soon we will experience truly dark skies again, something we know as astronomical darkness.
We here at Astro Dog are looking forward to the lengthening nights and true astronomical darkness that follow the Summer Solstice, however we are still enjoying the long and warm days of summertime. We love our Summer adventures with Luna, playing in the streams, being by the sea, the Milky Way core season, Noctilucent Clouds season, the Summer storms, the many beautiful flowering plants and all the wildlife that Summer brings. There have been a couple of great Noctilucent Cloud shows so far this year and even an amazing Aurora display that was visible to the eye in the middle of June! We hope we all get to see some more NLC before the season ends and maybe perhaps along with some more Aurora or Summer storms. Fingers crossed. 🤞
Whatever Summer means for you, we wish you all a lovely day and clear skies! ✨️
