Sunlovers rejoice, for the summer time solstice is upon us, bringing the longest day of 2025 whereas heralding the start of astronomical summer time within the northern hemisphere.
The summer solstice happens due to a 23.5 diploma tilt in Earth‘s rotational axis which will have arisen when an historical Mars-sized physique slammed into our planet billions of years in the past, triggering the formation of our moon. The angle of this tilt is — to all intents and functions — constant all yr spherical, and is at present fastened with the north celestial pole pointing near Polaris, the present north star.
Because of this tilt, we expertise the altering seasons, equinoxes and solstices — occasions which were celebrated by cultures world wide for hundreds of years. A few of humanity’s most iconic historical monuments like Stonehenge and the Mayan Chichén Itzá Pyramid have been function constructed to align with these seasonal markers.
Within the northern hemisphere the summer time solstice happens when the solar reaches its northernmost level relative to Earth’s celestial equator (which is just our planet’s common equator projected out into area). Conversely, the winter solstice takes place when the sun is in its southernmost place relative to the celestial equator.
When is the Summer time Solstice in 2025?
The 2025 summer time solstice arrives at 10:42 p.m. EDT on June 20 (0242 GMT June 21). On this present day, skywatchers throughout the northern hemisphere will benefit from the longest stretch of daylight all yr. In New York, for instance, the solar will spend greater than 15 hours beating a path by way of the sky.
On the identical time, these within the southern hemisphere will mark the winter solstice, which heralds the shortest day of 2025 beneath the equator. You may calculate precisely how a lot daylight you’ll expertise within the days across the summer time and winter solstices on-line utilizing TimeandDate.com‘s daylight tracker.
Naturally this quantity of daylight makes it a difficult time of yr for beginner astronomers, however that does not imply that the summer time months aren’t bursting with deep area targets and delightful asterisms.
Be sure you try our daily guide to June’s night sky to find which targets to prioritize throughout these quick summer time nights.
Editor’s Word: In case you discover a artistic technique to seize the Summer time Solstice and need to share it with House.com’s readers, then please ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your title and placement to spacephotos@area.com.