As an artifact of our global tilt, and as the Earth moves around the Sun once every year, the Sun shines sometimes more on the Northern Hemisphere our summer and sometimes more on the Southern Hemisphere our winter.
And between each of these two extremes, there comes a time when the Sun is shining on all parts of our globe in equal amounts for a whole day: the equinoxes. From here on Earth, it appears to us—just as it appeared to people even before the dawn of history—that the position of the midday Sun moves in the sky.
On the first day of summer the summer solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the noon Sun appears high in the sky. It rises about eight hours before noon and sets about eight hours after noon. Correspondingly, our weather turns warm. At the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the Sun is in the sky for approximately 12 hours. But on the first day of winter the winter solstice , the Sun is in our sky for a total of only about 8 or 9 hours and it appears very low in the sky at noon. Consequently, we get cold from so little exposure to the Sun.
The direct rays of the Sun migrate across our globe on a daily basis. For one half of the year, the Sun appears to migrate north and for the other half of the year, the Sun appears to migrate south. The summer solstice happens in late June— From the moment of the December winter solstice to the June summer solstice, the Sun appears to continuously climb northward as its direct rays migrate north.
Only at the solstice points does the Sun appear to briefly stop and change direction. In essence, the sun is standing. More specifically, it occurs when the Sun's path is farthest from the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice happens in June, and in southern hemisphere, the solstice happens in December — hence why the seasons are reversed in each hemisphere.
So the winter solstice Dec. The biggest difference between the equinox and the solstice is that a solstice is the point during the Earth's orbit around the sun at which the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator, while during an equinox, it's at the closest distance from the equator. Because of this, one solstice is an extremely long day, and the other is an extremely short day.
Comparatively, during an equinox, the days and nights are equal lengths. Not to mention, just because the sun crosses over the imaginary celestial line from the north to south direction, September Equinox is also known as the Southward Equinox. Moving ahead, as the sun switches sides from the north to the south, September Equinox marks the end of winters and the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere.
Hence, known as the spring or Vernal Equinox in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, I am not going to explain it again. Moving ahead, as of today, in the northern hemisphere, the first day of spring will occur on Saturday, March 20, , at sharp Eastern Daylight Time EDT.
According to the astronomical definition of solstices, this is a natural event during which one of the hemispheres is at the maximum tilt away from or towards the sun. And, when this happens, the sun appears to stand still and reverses its direction. There are two types of solstices. These are summer and winter solstices. In reality, these are astronomical types of solstices. I mean these names are given according to the astronomical definition of the seasons that occurs during the time of solstices in one of the hemisphere.
However, the official names of Solstices are somehow different from the above-mentioned ones. According to the definition of Solstice, the two types of solstices are June and December Solstice. On the eve of June Solstice, the north pole of the earth is at its maximum tilt towards the sun. Therefore, as a result, marking the end of spring and the arrival of summer in the northern hemisphere. The sun will also enter the tropic of Cancer on the eve of June Soltice.
Hence, known as the winter or hibernal solstice in the southern hemisphere. Additionally, the day of June solstice will be the brightest as well as the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. On the contrary, it will also be the darkest as well as the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. On the eve of December Solstice, the south pole of the earth is at its maximum tilt towards the sun.
Therefore, as a result, marking the end of spring and the arrival of summer in the southern hemisphere. The sun will also enter the tropic of Capricorn on the eve of December Solstice. Hence, known as the winter or hibernal solstice in the northern hemisphere. Additionally, the day of December solstice will be the brightest as well as the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. On the contrary, it will also be the darkest as well as the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Therefore, moving ahead, as of today, in the northern hemisphere, the first day of summer will occur on Sunday, June 20, , at sharp Eastern Daylight Time EDT. Yes, its date does vary. See, after every four years, there is a leap year. Therefore, in order to adjust the Gregorian Calendar with the eve of the winter solstice, the December solstice date varies.
For example, in , the December solstice occurred on the 22nd of the month. But next year i. Such is the case with all the types of Equinox and Solstice. Not to mention, there are some other factors too, that contribute to the variation in the equinox and solstice dates. But, just to make things simple, I am just neglecting them.
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