Summer Solstice
SUMMER SOLSTICE 2020: THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR In 2020, the June solstice occurs on Saturday, June 20, marking the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s all you need to learn about the summer solstice—the longest day of the year! WHEN IS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE? In 2020, the June solstice is Saturday, June 20, at 5:44 P.M. EDT. This date marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year. (By longest “day,” we mean the longest period of sunlight.) At the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year. CELEBRATE THE START OF SUMMER WITH AN ECLIPSE An annular solar eclipse will occur on the weekend of the solstice, beginning just before midnight (Eastern Time) o...