The June solstice will occur on June 20 at Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in 2008, which is at its earliest in more than 100 years. The last time the June solstice fell on June 20 was in 1896, a time when Queen Victoria ruled England and the first modern Olympic Games took place. It was also a leap year, like 2008.
Illustration is not to scale
The June solstice is known as the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere contrary to the southern hemisphere, where it is known as the winter solstice. Its date varies from June 20 to June 22, depending on the year, in the Gregorian calendar. The June solstice will occur at 23:59 (or 11.59pm) UTC on June 20, 2008.
Varying dates
In the Gregorian calendar the June solstice dates vary. For example, it occurs on June 20 in 2008 and on June 21 in 2009. The next date when the June solstice falls on June 20 will be in 2012. A June 22 solstice will not occur until June 22, 2203, which is 195 years away from 2008. A June 22 solstice previously occurred on June 22, 1971.
The varying dates of the solstice are mainly due to the calendar system – most western countries use the Gregorian calendar, which has 365 days in a year, or 366 days in a leap year. As for the tropical year, it is approximately 365.242199 days, but varies from year to year because of the influence of other planets. A tropical year is the length of time that the sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from earth. According to Swinburne University of Technology, the exact orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the earth's axis (precession), also contributes to the changing solstice dates.
The June solstice explained
The June solstice occurs when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator – it reaches its northernmost point and the earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun, at about 23.5 degrees. It is also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere. According to Swinburne University of Technology, if the earth's rotation was at right angles to the plane of its orbit around the sun, there would be no solstice days and no seasons.
The June solstice day has the longest hours of daylight for those living north of the Tropic of Cancer. Those living or travelling to the north of the Arctic Circle are able to see the “midnight sun”, where the sun remains visible throughout the night, while those living or travelling south of the Antarctic Circle will not see sun during this time of the year. For those living near the equator, the sun does not shift up and down in the sky as much compared with other geographical locations away from the equator during this time of the year. This means that the length of day temperature does not vary as much.
The June solstice marks the first day of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. The word solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium”, meaning “sun-stopping”, because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day. On this day, the sun does not rise precisely in the east, but rises to the north of east and sets to the north of west allowing it to be in the sky for a longer period of time. In the southern hemisphere, the June solstice is known as the shortest day of the year. It is when the sun has reached its furthest point from the equator and marks the first day of winter.
Moving to other seasons
©iStockphoto.com/Bojan Tezak
It is important to note that earth does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical orbit. Therefore the seasons are not of equal length: the times taken for the sun to move from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice, to the autumnal equinox, to the winter solstice, and back to the vernal equinox are roughly 92.8, 93.6, 89.8 and 89.0 days respectively. The consolation in the northern hemisphere is that spring and summer last longer than autumn and winter.
Useful Tools
To calculate the approximate time and date (according to Coordinated Universal Time) of the March equinox, as well as the June and December solstices and the September equinox, click on the Seasons Calculator. These dates mark the beginning of the four seasons of the year, which are spring, summer, autumn (or fall) and winter. It is important to note that the seasons in the northern hemisphere are opposite to those in the southern hemisphere. Click here for more information about the Seasons Calculator and links to useful tools, such as the Day and Night World Map, Moon Calculator, Moon Phase Calculator, and Sunrise Calculator.
The World Clock can also be used to find sunrise and sunset times, as well as the current position of the sun in major cities around the world. Simply select any location that is available from the World Clock and the calculator will adjust the local time in that particular city.
Solstice’s influence on cultures
In ancient times, solstices and equinoxes were important in guiding people to develop and maintain calendars, as well as helping them to grow crops. It was important for many people, especially those who spent a considerable amount of time outdoors, to understand the seasons and weather, which played a key role in their lives. Over the centuries, the June solstice was a time when festivals, celebrations and other festivities were celebrated. Click here for more information.
Astronomy calculators
- Seasons Calculator
- Moon Calculator – find times for moonrise, moonset and more
- Moon Phase Calculator – Calculate Moon Phases for any year
- Sunrise Calculator – find times for sunrise, sunset and more
- Day and Night World Map – See which parts of the Earth are currently illuminated by the Sun
More information
- June Solstice Customs and Traditions
- September Equinox
- September Equinox Customs and Holidays
- December Solstice
- December Solstice Customs and Traditions
- Vernal Equinox
- Vernal Equinox Customs and Holidays
Calendar tools
- Calendar for year 2008
- Calendar Generator – Create a calendar for any year
- Duration Between Two Dates – Calculates number of days
Related time zone tools
- The World Clock – current times around the world
- Time Zone Converter – If it is 3 pm in New York, what time is it in Sydney?
- Fixed Time Calculator – If it's 3 pm in New York, what time is it in the rest of the world?
