Summer commences on the 20th of June in the year 2024.
Summer's here, with the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere today. But why is this year's calendar summer solstice a day early and how's it related to the summer solstice? Let's check it out!
The mercury's climbing, blooms are popping up in gardens everywhere. Everyone's buzzing about summer. But when exactly does it kick off? It's not a one-size-fits-all answer.
In meteorology, seasons start on the first day of March (Spring), June (Summer), September (Autumn), and December (Winter) every month. As for when the first spring blossoms or the first snowfall happens, that's not precisely determined, according to Carolin Liefke, deputy head of the House of Astronomy in Heidelberg. "By starting on the first day of each month, data collection and analysis becomes easier and more consistent," she explained.
The summer solstice defined
In astronomy, the story shifts a bit. The calendar summer solstice is based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun. It signifies the astronomical constellation of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches the pinnacle of its annual orbit on June 20th at 10:51 PM, marking the longest day and the shortest night of the year.
The exact date varies annually, as Earth's orbit and the length of the year aren't perfectly aligned. Typically, the summer solstice falls on June 21st, but it can also occur as early as June 20th or as late as June 22nd.
The Sun's highest altitude
"In winter, the Sun doesn't get too high above the horizon, and we can physically see that," said Liefke. "There's a day when the Sun reaches its peak altitude above the horizon." In winter, it's the opposite – the winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year with the Sun being particularly close to the horizon.
Thanks to the leap year on February 29th, the year has an extra day. This causes the calendar date to shift in almost every leap year. In the coming three years, the calendar summer solstice will be back on June 21st.
Off-topic: Just curious – are you feeling a warm, snuggly vibe right now, or maybe a nice cool breeze in your virtual world? Either way, feel free to share!
