AUSTIN (KXAN) – While many kids are already out of school for summer, the technical start of summer will actually happen on Friday, June 20, with the summer solstice!
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice marks the beginning of the astrological summer, marking the period of time where the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Astrological summer begins at a different time every year, occurring when the Sun’s rays are directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
The moment that the earth’s tilt is at a maximum towards the sun is when the summer solstice takes place. It marks the longest day of the year, approximately 14 hours and six minutes, as opposed to the winter solstice which marks the shortest day of the year. This means that our days will gradually get shorter starting on June 20.
The Seasons
There are two solstices in a year, as well as two equinoxes. Each of these events marks a change in the Earth’s tilt towards the sun. Seasons are a result of the Earth’s tilt changing as the tilt changes, which closely relates them to the solstice and equinoxes throughout the year.
Summer will begin on June 20 at 9:42 p.m. with the summer solstice, and marks the road to the autumnal equinox which will take place on September 22.