No More Waiting; Summer is Here!

The mere mention of the word ‘summer’ brings to mind days filled with sunshine, cool breezes, and the smell of freshly mowed grass in the air. It’s a special season that’s been eagerly awaited by both young and old alike, and there’s likely no one who wouldn’t tell you that, given the chance, they’d stay in summer’s warmth forever.

There’s a common misconception out there, though, that seems to have developed over the years – that summer starts on the first day of June. But the truth is – summer actually begins much earlier than that – on the day of the June solstice, or in other words, the longest day of the year.

What is a June Solstice?
It’s the time of year when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere. Due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis in relation to the sun, the June solstice marks the first day of astronomical summer. It happens every year on either June 20th or June 21st depending on the year.

If That’s the Day, What Time?
The solstices and equinoxes recognize solar noon, which is when the sun crosses the meridian directly over your location – this occurs at the same moment all around the world. In the summer solstice, (marked by the longest day of the year) solar noon happens when the sun’s rays are directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer, at a latitude of +23°26′.

Due to time differences, the exact time for the start of summer will vary, depending on your location. For instance, in the USA, the solstice will occur in the early hours of June 21st. As an example, in the Eastern Time Zone of the US, Summer officially begins at 5:44 AM EDT on June 21st.

Conclusion
This year, summer will begin in the early hours of Monday, June 21st. Once again, the solstice will bring with it long summer days and temperate nights, longed for by many the world over. So don’t forget, summer begins on June 21st – no more waiting!