06/20/2025
Happy Summer Solstice!
Today marks the official start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere – and it’s the longest day of the year!
At 10:42 pm EDT (2:42 am GMT, June 21), the Sun travels its longest, highest arc across the sky all year for those north of the equator.
For centuries, cultures around the world have celebrated this moment from sunrise rituals at Stonehenge to dancing around maypoles in Sweden. It’s a time to honor the Sun, the Earth, and the turning of the seasons.
So what’s happening, exactly? The summer solstice occurs when Earth’s axial tilt leans most directly toward the Sun – about 23.5 degrees – placing the Sun directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. This tilt is also what gives us our seasons. Around this time, regions north of the Arctic Circle experience 24 hours of daylight, while the Southern Hemisphere begins its astronomical winter.
Wherever you are, take a moment to soak in the sunlight; it’s the most we’ll get all year!
