What is the Summer Solstice?
By Aditi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press – Jun 19, 2024 / 06:01 AM | Articles: 493111
Photo: The Canadian Press
FILE – People gather to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, at Stonehenge, an ancient circular stone city near Salisbury, England, June 21, 2023. With the summer solstice on Thursday, June 20, 2024, summer will begin again in the Northern Hemisphere. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
It's the beginning of summer and you can see the full moon.
Here's what you need to know about Thursday's Northern Hemisphere summer solstice.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The Earth is tilted as it orbits the Sun. The summer solstice occurs when the top half of the Earth is closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere. This day is also the longest day and shortest night of the year.
At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere tilts farthest away from the Sun, experiencing the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.
Six months later, the winter solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.
What is the Vernal Equinox?
The vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur when the Earth's axis and orbit are aligned, allowing the same amount of sunlight to reach both hemispheres.
Spring begins on the vernal equinox on March 19th, and autumn arrives on the autumnal equinox on September 22nd.
What is a Strawberry Moon?
This summer solstice brings with it the first full moon of summer, a stunning Strawberry Moon. The moon's color isn't pink or red. The name comes from several Native American tribes who noticed that its timing coincided with the strawberry harvest.
Look to the southeast on Friday evening and you'll see the full moon rising above the horizon.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science Education Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
