Welcome, summer!
Prime time for enthusiastic gardeners
It is a few days late, but summer is a welcome time of year in this writer’s mind. There are flowers, birds and all sorts of wildlife and events to enjoy, after all!
According to the Farmers Almanac, the June solstice, also known as the summer solstice, occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. This marks the astronomical start of summer in the northern half of the globe. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite: the June Solstice marks the astronomical start of winter when the sun it at the lowest part of the sky.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. It makes the start of summer in the northern half of the blog.
In contrast, the June Solstice comes from the Latin words sol (“sun”) and sinister (“to stand still). Due to the Earth’s tiled axis, the Sun does not rise and set at the same locations on the one the horizon each morning and evening; its rise and set positions move northward or southward in the sky as Earth travels around the Sun through the year.
In addition, the sun’s track in the sky becomes higher or lower through the year.
The June solstice is significant because the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky as the Earth travels around the sun through the year. Also, the Sun’s track in the sky becomes higher or lower throughout the year.
After the solstice, the sun appears to reverse course and head back in the opposite direction. The motion referred to here is the apparent path of the Sun when one v few its position at the same time each day: For example, at the noon hour.
Over the year, its path forms a sort of flattened Figure Eight, called an analemma. Of course, the Sun itself is not moving unless you consider its orbit around the Milky Way galaxy; instead, this change in position in the sky at we on Earth notice is caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis as it orbits the Sun, as well as the Earth’s elliptical, rather than circular orbit.
Of course, the Summer Solstice is also a spiritual time for many Americans. According to research, both pagen and other religions celebrate the solstice in striking ways. For example, movies have been made about the solstice, including several with the title “Summer Solstice.”
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (aka summer solstice) occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. It marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In contrast, the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky, marking the start of winter.)
Solstice comes from the Latin words sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”). Due to Earth’s tilted axis, the Sun doesn’t rise and set at the same locations on the horizon each morning and evening; its rise and set positions move northward or southward in the sky as Earth travels around the Sun through the year. Also, the Sun’s track in the sky becomes higher or lower throughout the year. The June solstice is significant because the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky at this time, at which point the Sun’s path does not change for a brief period of time.
After the solstice, the Sun appears to reverse course and head back in the opposite direction. The motion referred to here is the apparent path of the Sun when one views its position in the sky at the same time each day, for example, at local noon. Over the year, its path forms a sort of flattened figure eight, called an analemma. Of course, the Sun itself is not moving (unless you consider its orbit around the Milky Way galaxy); instead, this change in position in the sky that we on Earth notice is caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as it orbits the Sun, as well as Earth’s elliptical, rather than circular, orbit.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (aka summer solstice) occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. It marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In contrast, the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky, marking the start of winter.)
Solstice comes from the Latin words sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”). Due to Earth’s tilted axis, the Sun doesn’t rise and set at the same locations on the horizon each morning and evening; its rise and set positions move northward or southward in the sky as Earth travels around the Sun through the year. Also, the Sun’s track in the sky becomes higher or lower throughout the year. The June solstice is significant because the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky at this time, at which point the Sun’s path does not change for a brief period of time.
After the solstice, the Sun appears to reverse course and head back in the opposite direction. The motion referred to here is the apparent path of the Sun when one views its position in the sky at the same time each day, for example, at local noon. Over the year, its path forms a sort of flattened figure eight, called an analemma. Of course, the Sun itself is not moving (unless you consider its orbit around the Milky Way galaxy); instead, this change in position in the sky that we on Earth notice is caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as it orbits the Sun, as well as Earth’s elliptical, rather than circular, orbit.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (aka summer solstice) occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. It marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In contrast, the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky, marking the start of winter.)