Summer solstice
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The summer solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of a planet's semi-axis in a given hemisphere is most inclined towards the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26'. Though the summer solstice is an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used like Midsummer to refer to the day on which it occurs. Except in the polar regions (where daylight is continuous for many months), the day on which the summer solstice occurs is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. The summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere north of the Tropic of Cancer (23°26'N) and in December in the Southern Hemisphere south of the Tropic of Capricorn (23°26'S). The Sun reaches its highest position in the sky on the day of the summer solstice. However, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the highest sun position does not occur at the summer solstice, since the sun reaches the zenith here and it does so at different times of the year depending on the latitude of the observer.[1] Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs some time between December 21 and December 22 each year in the Southern Hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.[2]
Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied among cultures, but most have held a recognition of sign of the fertility, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.[3]
The word solstice derives from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).
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[edit] Dates and times
The following lists the dates and UTC times of the summer solstice for the early portion of the 21st century.[4]
| Year | Northern Hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | June 21, 01:48 | December 21, 13:37 |
| 2001 | June 21, 07:38 | December 21, 19:21 |
| 2002 | June 21, 13:24 | December 22, 01:14 |
| 2003 | June 21, 19:10 | December 22, 07:04 |
| 2004 | June 21, 00:57 | December 21, 12:42 |
| 2005 | June 21, 06:46 | December 21, 18:35 |
| 2006 | June 21, 12:26 | December 22, 00:22 |
| 2007 | June 21, 18:06 | December 22, 06:08 |
| 2008 | June 20, 23:59 | December 21, 12:04 |
| 2009 | June 21, 05:46 | December 21, 17:47 |
| 2010 | June 21, 11:28 | December 21, 23:38 |
| 2011 | June 21, 17:16 | December 22, 05:30 |
| 2012 | June 20, 23:09 | December 21, 11:12 |
| 2013 | June 21, 05:04 | December 21, 17:11 |
| 2014 | June 21, 10:51 | December 21, 21:23 |
| 2015 | June 21, 16:38 | December 22, 04:48 |
| 2016 | June 20, 22:34 | December 21, 10:44 |
| 2017 | June 21, 04:24 | December 21, 16:28 |
| 2018 | June 21, 10:07 | December 21, 22:23 |
| 2019 | June 21, 15:54 | December 22, 04:20 |
| 2020 | June 20, 21:44 | December 21, 10:02 |
[edit] Celebrations
- Midsummer
- Ivan Kupala Day
- Saint Jonas' Festival
- Kupala fertility rite
- Wianki
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ An Introduction to Physical Science, 12th Ed., James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Aaron Todd, Section 15.5, p 423, ISBN 978-0618926961, 2007.
- ^ "Solstice (astronomy)". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/553654/solstice. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ^ "Summer solstice celebrations of Christianity, Judaism, Neopaganism, etc". Religioustolerance.org. http://www.religioustolerance.org/summer_solstice.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ^ "Earth's Seasons — Naval Oceanography Portal". Usno.navy.mil. http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/earth-seasons. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
