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Summer Solstice
Date: June 20, 5:57 pm PDT
Summer officially begins with the summer solstice on Sunday, June 20 at 5:57 pm PDT. The earth is tilted so that the north pole is at its closest point with the sun. (Yet, the earth will be at its farthest distance from the sun, called aphelion, on July 3rd) As a result there will be more minutes of sunlight in the northern hemisphere than there are at any other time of the year.
Summer Solstice Facts
The word "solstice" is derived from the Latin sol-stitium, for sun-standing. The summer solstice is the time of the year when the sun stops its northern climb and stands briefly before turning back toward the equator.
On June 21 and 22, we will have nearly 17 hours of daylight to enjoy. From March 21 until September 24, there are more hours of daylight than darkness. After June 21, the days will gradually grow shorter until December 20, the winter solstice.
As seen from Portland, the sun will reach its highest northern point in the sky at 68.26 degrees from the horizon on June 21 at approximately 1:10 p.m. The earliest sunrise (5:21 am PDT) of the year occurs on June 14th. The earliest sunrise, longest day, and latest sunset do not coincide. The longest days occur around the solstice (June 21) and the latest sunset (9:03 pm PDT) happens on June 28. The summer solstice produces the shortest sunset and sunrise of the year. The sun will rise from the NNE (57 degrees azimuth) and set at NNW (302 degrees azimuth). At this time of year, the full moon (June 14th) will appear low above the southern horizon. It will rise from the SE (128 degrees azimuth) and set at SW (228 degrees azimuth). The moon will only reach a maximum altitude of 19 degrees at 1:35 am. Whenever a full moon is not too high above the horizon it looks bigger and more colorful than usual. The moon is close to the horizon we always view it through the thicker layers of the earth's dusty atmosphere so a low riding full moon almost always looks more colorful than a full moon that's riding high.
Around the World
In ancient times, the beginning of summer was met with as much joy. Summer meant a new beginning; the snow had thawed, the leaves were green, food was easier to find and crops could be planted. The season was so important that literally hundreds of groups celebrated it with religious festivities.
- Ancient Sweden - A tree was set up and decorated in each town to celebrate summer solstice. The villagers would dance around the tree and females would bathe in the local river. The ritual was supposed to bring rain for the crops.
- Ancient Egypt - Summer solstice was considered the beginning of the new year. It coincided with the flooding season when the soil would be fertilized and water would quench the arid Nile Valley.
- Latvia and other Baltic States - Summer solstice was celebrated with a feast of traditional beer and cheese. All work would be put on hold during the festivities.
- North American Natives - Several Native American tribes marked the solstice with rites and ritual celebrations. The Sioux tribe would perform the Sundance in a specially constructed lodge and the Hopi Indians held ceremonies with masked dancers in brightly colored costumes. The dancers represented the spirits of rain and fertility.
What's probably the biggest celebration of summer solstice happens at Stonehenge. Every year thousands of New Age followers, who call themselves Druids, gather to dance, play music and watch the sun rise. The mysterious stone circles southwest of London align with the rising of the sun on the longest day of the year. Some experts say they are part of a huge astronomical calendar.
Solstice to the south
Not everybody is celebrating. Far to our south, across the equator, winter has arrived. For people in the southern hemisphere, June 21st, will be the shortest day of the year. It also means the beginning of their winter. Six months from now, when the earth has made half of its yearly trip around the sun, the northern hemisphere will experience that cold weather. December 21 will be winter solstice. That's when we have the fewest hours of sunlight and winter officially begins. (submitted by OMSI; posted: 6/17/04)
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