What are the 4 solstices and equinoxes?
So, in the Northern Hemisphere you have: Vernal equinox(about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring. Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): longest day of the year, marking the start of summer. Autumnal equinox(about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn.
Is the solstice always on the 21st?
The dates of the solstice varies each year and may occur a day earlier or later depending on the time zone. The solstices always occur between June 20 and 22 and between December 20 and 23 with the 21st and 22nd being the most common dates.
What happens on the December solstice?
The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December Solstice. The December Solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.4 degrees. In other words, when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the Sun.
What happens during a solstice?
The Southern Hemisphere’s seasons are reversed. On two moments each year—what are called solstices—Earth’s axis is tilted most closely toward the sun. The hemisphere tilted most toward our home star sees its longest day, while the hemisphere tilted away from the sun sees its longest night.
What was the shortest day?
December 21
Bottom line: The 2020 December solstice takes place on Monday, December 21 at 10:02 UTC (4:02 a.m. CST; translate UTC to your time). It marks the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day (first day of winter) and Southern Hemisphere’s longest day (first day of summer). Happy solstice to all!
Why is it getting dark so early 2020?
In the summer months the top of the Earth tilts and faces the sun which gives us those glorious long days of sunlight. In the winter (now) it switches and the Northern Hemisphere points away from the sun giving us shorter days and that dreaded early darkness.
Which month has longest day?
June 21
Summer Solstice, the Longest Day of the Year, falls on Monday, June 21. This intriguing event usually occurs between June 20 to June 22, every year, depending upon when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer at noon. The other names of Summer Solstice are Estival solstice or midsummer.
What does equinox literally mean?
Night
The term equinox, like solstice, finds its origin in Latin with the roots aequus meaning “Equal” and nox meaning “Night.” Astronomers define the equinox as the moment the Earth’s Equator on its axis passes the same plane of the Sun’s equator, but its name reveals more of what we experience of these March and September …
What does the name solstice mean?
The name Solstice is primarily a female name of English origin that means Position Of The Sun. Two times of the year when the sun’s apparent position in the sky reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes.
Which country has longest night in the world?
Here’s what I learned about happiness and the wintertime blues. Located more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø, Norway, is home to extreme light variation between seasons. During the Polar Night, which lasts from November to January, the sun doesn’t rise at all.
When does summer solstice end?
Summer Solstice was on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
What are some summer solstice activities?
Take a moment to enjoy some summer solstice activities alone or with your family. Watch the sunrise. Walk along the beach. Light a candle, pause, smile, breathe.
What is the history of summer solstice?
The summer solstice was a day of great significance for many past civilizations. Ancient Greeks. According to certain iterations of the Greek calendar—they varied widely by region and era—the summer solstice was the first day of the year. Several festivals were held around this time, including Kronia , which celebrated the agriculture god Cronus .