Longest day of the year 2023: When the sun shines brightest and longest, it’s time to celebrate the summer solstice! This special day, usually around June 21, is when the northern hemisphere has the longest daylight and shortest night. For centuries, people around the world have cherished this magical event and created their own customs to mark its arrival.
☀️🌞 The summer solstice occurs when one hemisphere is most inclined towards the Sun, receiving maximum daylight. In the northern hemisphere it occurs on June 21, 2023. Discover the science behind one of the most important celebrations in the world 👇https://t.co/muJNmm4SZH pic.twitter.com/03O8RMKIHj
– StarWalk (@StarWalk)
June 20, 2023
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice is the day with the most sunlight in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun at its maximum angle. This means that the sun’s rays hit the Earth’s surface at a more direct angle, resulting in longer days and shorter nights.
The summer solstice is also called the June solstice because it usually occurs in June. In 2023, the summer solstice will be June 21.
The summer solstice is a time of celebration in many cultures. It is often seen as a time of renewal and rebirth. In some cultures, the summer solstice is also associated with abundance.
The word “solstice” comes from the Latin words “sol” (sun) and “stitium” (still or stopped). This is because the sun’s path across the sky appears to stop for a short period of time around the solstice.
The Earth’s axis is tilted, meaning the sun doesn’t rise and set in the same places on the horizon every day. As the Earth travels around the Sun, the sunrise and sunset positions of the Sun move north or south in the sky.
The June solstice is important because the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky at this time. This is the day with the most hours of light.
The sun’s path across the sky stops changing for a brief period of time around the solstice because the Earth’s axis is at its greatest tilt toward the sun. As the Earth’s tilt begins to decrease, the Sun’s path across the sky will begin to move south again.
Similarly, the shortest day of the year 2023 in the northern hemisphere will be December 22, 2023, this is the winter solstice when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky and the day is the shortest.
The opposite occurs in the southern hemisphere. The longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere is December 22, 2023 and the shortest day is June 21, 2023.
Why is it called the longest day of the year?
The summer solstice is considered the longest day of summer because it is the day with the most hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice typically has about 15 hours of daylight and 9 hours of darkness. In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice typically has about 9 hours of daylight and 15 hours of darkness.
The reason the summer solstice has the most hours of daylight is because of the tilt of the Earth. The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees. This means that the Earth’s axis is not perpendicular to the plane of its orbit around the sun.
During the summer solstice, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. This means that the sun’s rays hit the Earth’s surface at a more direct angle in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere.
The more direct angle of the sun’s rays means that more sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface in the northern hemisphere. This results in longer days and shorter nights.
The summer solstice is the day when the Earth’s tilt towards the sun is greatest. This means that the sun’s rays hit the Earth’s surface at the most direct angle. As the Earth’s tilt begins to decrease, the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface will decrease and the days will begin to get shorter.
Ways to celebrate the summer solstice
People celebrate the summer solstice in many exciting ways. Here are some of them:
- Stonehenge, United Kingdom: At Stonehenge, a famous stone circle, thousands of people gather to watch the sunrise on the summer solstice. They believe that the sun’s rays align perfectly with ancient stones. It is a moment of spiritual reflection and connection with nature.
Midsummer celebrations at Stonehenge pic.twitter.com/bBCLFoY7cV
– Stonehenge UK (@ST0NEHENGE)
June 20, 2023
- Midsommar, Sweden: In Sweden they celebrate the summer solstice with a festival called Midsommar. People dress in colorful traditional clothes, dance and decorate the Maypoles with flowers and leaves. They also enjoy delicious Swedish foods and drinks.
- Inti Raymi, Peru: The ancient Inca festival of Inti Raymi is recreated in Peru during the summer solstice. It involves many celebrations, music, dances and offerings to the Sun God, Inti. The objective is to ask for a good harvest and protection for the community.
To conclude, the summer solstice is a captivating astronomical event that marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, providing us with abundant natural light.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn