Overview
- The astronomical solstice falls on Sunday, June 21, occurring at one precise instant that most outlets list as 4:24 a.m. EDT (8:25 UTC and 9:24 a.m. BST).
- It marks the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere with the longest day of the year and the start of astronomical winter in the Southern Hemisphere with the shortest day.
- Local daylight extremes vary by latitude: Hobart will see about 9 hours and 1 minute of daylight, Lerwick will barely get dark during its long twilight or 'simmer dim,' and places above the Arctic Circle will experience the midnight sun.
- Ancient and modern gatherings are planned worldwide, including open access at Stonehenge with heavy traffic and sold‑out parking, and many individuals observing Litha, sunrise swims, bonfires or private rituals.
- The solstice happens because Earth’s axis tilts about 23.5 degrees so the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer at that instant, a fact that also explains longer sunsets near the solstices and why clinicians advise people with winter blues to note the turning point in daylight.