Despite record-breaking hot temperatures around the region this month, Summer didn’t officially begin until exactly 4:24 Sunday morning. June 21 kicks off the Summer Solstice, the first day of astronomical summer, the longest day of the year — In the northern hemisphere, anyway. In the southern hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year.
Some interesting notes: The word “solstice” comes from two Latin words: sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), according the Farmer’s Almanac.
When the sun appears highest in the sky near the solstice, the full moon opposite the sun will generally appear lowest in the sky.
The earliest sunrise actually occurred about a week ago, not on the longest day of the year, due to the tilt of the earth, and its elliptical orbit.
The timing of the June solstice is not restricted to a specific calendar day. It depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. Currently the solstice shifts between June 20, 21, and 22.
In 2026 it is Sunday, June 21, and also Father’s Day in the United States.
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More information can be found at the Farmer’s Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice
