1. It’s our longest day of the year
The June solstice, the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, occurs on June 20, 2020, at 5:44 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, according to earthsky.org.
2. What’s a solstice, anyway?
The solstice is an astronomical event, caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis and its motion in orbit around the sun. Because the Earth doesn’t orbit upright, the northern and southern hemispheres trade places receiving the sun’s light and warmth most directly.
3. It’s a great day to be north!
All locations north of the equator have days longer than 12 hours at the June solstice. Meanwhile, all locations south of the equator have days shorter than 12 hours.
4. Longest doesn’t mean hottest
Earth takes a while to warm up after winter. Even in June, ice and snow still blanket the ground in some places. The sun has to melt the ice – and warm the oceans – before we feel the most sweltering summer heat.
5. Celebrating the solstice goes way back
Some 5,000 years ago, people placed huge stones in a circle in what’s now England and aligned them with the June solstice sunrise. That circle is known as Stonehenge.We may never comprehend the full significance of Stonehenge.