What is the Summer solstice?

Table of Contents☰

About Summer solstice:

In Latin, “Solstice” means “sun stands still”.
It is an annual astronomical phenomenon that brings the longest day of the year.
On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, receiving the full glare of the sun’s rays.
During the solstice, the Earth’s axis — around which the planet spins, is tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the Sun and the South Pole is away from it.
Typically, this imaginary axis passes right through the middle of the Earth from top to bottom and is always tilted at 23.5 degrees with respect to the Sun.
What happens during the solstice?
- This day sees the Earth receiving a greater amount of energy from the Sun.
- Each year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on one of two days: June 20 or June 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice happens on Dec. 21 or Dec. 22.
- The date varies because the Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with an extra leap day added in February every four years.
- The amount of light received by a specific area in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice depends on the latitudinal location of the place.
- The further north one moves from the equator, the more light one receives during the summer solstice. At the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set during the solstice.

Q1: What is solar flare?

A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. Flares are our solar system’s largest explosive events. They are seen as bright areas on the sun, and they can last from minutes to hours.

Source: Summer solstice 2024: When is the solstice, why does it happen, and how do cultures celebrate?