What is the summer solstice and why is it the longest day of the year?
Summary
The summer solstice marks the start of astronomical summer in the northern hemisphere and occurs when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun. This event, typically on June 21 but sometimes on June 20 or 22, brings the longest amount of daylight and shortest night of the year.Key Facts
- The summer solstice happens when the northern hemisphere is tilted most toward the Sun.
- In 2025, it occurs on Sunday, 21 June at 09:24 BST.
- The solstice date varies slightly due to the Earth's orbit lasting longer than a calendar year, so leap years help adjust the calendar.
- The Sun appears directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer on the solstice.
- The word “solstice” means “sun stand still” in Latin, referring to the Sun’s paused movement in the sky.
- Earliest sunrises occur before the solstice, and latest sunsets happen after it.
- Astronomical summer starts at the solstice, while meteorological summer runs from 1 June to 31 August for easier weather comparisons.
- Stonehenge in the UK is a famous site for solstice celebrations.
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