Summer Solstice Fun Facts!

Thanks to Joel Rohland for making this photo available on @unsplash 

Here are five interesting facts about the Summer Solstice:

1. Longest Day of the Year: The Summer Solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs when the North Pole is tilted closest to the sun.

2. Cultural Celebrations: Many cultures around the world celebrate the Summer Solstice. In Sweden, people celebrate Midsummer with dancing, feasts, and maypole raising. In the UK, thousands gather at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise.

3. Ancient Observances: Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans celebrated the solstice with various rituals and festivals. The solstice was often linked to agricultural cycles and fertility.

4. Astronomical Significance: The Summer Solstice happens when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23.5 degrees. This results in the sun reaching its highest point in the sky at noon.

5. “Polar Day”: In regions within the Arctic Circle, the Summer Solstice can bring about the phenomenon known as the "Midnight Sun," where the sun is visible for 24 hours. This continuous daylight can last for several weeks around the solstice.

BONUS:

😃🌞 Happy Solstice!! - Ready for the “Lunistice”? 🌕- Major Lunar Standstill Could Shed Light On Stonehenge’s Moon Link — Here’s How To Watch via @forbes https://t.co/n82aHb6ll2

— 𝐎. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 🌈 (@odouglasj) June 20, 2024

WHAT IS A MAJOR LUNAR STANDSTILL?

Whereas the sun follows a cycle that takes place roughly over the course of a year, the Moon’s cycle is much more rapid. Moonrise and moonset move from their northernmost to southernmost limits and back again in just a month. But the movements of the Moon have a further cycle. The limits of moonrise and moonset change over a period of about 18.6 years.

The major lunar standstill is when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and moonset are furthest apart.