Summer is here! (officially): What to know about summer solstice and the days ahead

June 20th, marks the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, officially starting astronomical summer as the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Here are some commonly asked questions, and answers.

What is the summer solstice?

The summer solstice occurs when the Earth's northern pole is tilted closest to the sun. It also is the point where the earth is furthest from the Sun in its orbital path. Following this day, daylight hours gradually decrease.

When does the summer solstice occur?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice falls on June 20th or 21st. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs around December 21st or 22nd, according to the National Weather Service.

How many hours of daylight do we get on the summer solstice?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the amount of daylight varies with latitude. Near the equator, daylight lasts approximately 12 hours from sunrise to sunset. In mid-northern latitudes (Mexico and the U.S), daylight can extend up to about 15 hours. According to Sunrise-sunset.org, Texas will experience approximately 14 hours and 6 minutes of daylight today.

Is the summer solstice the first day of summer?

Yes, for most parts of the world, the summer solstice marks the beginning of summer. However, in some regions, particularly in cultural contexts, it is viewed not as the start of summer but rather as midsummer.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Summer solstice is the longest day of the year. What to know.