Summer solstice: What and when is it?
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — The summer solstice is happening this week, marking the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer.
The summer solstice officially happens on Thursday at 3:50 p.m. CDT.
On the day of the solstice, daylight time varies greatly by location. Miami, Florida, will have 14 hours and 9 minutes of daytime, while the sun will not set within the Arctic Circle, marking 24 hours of daylight.This is called the “Midnight Sun.”
At the North Pole, there is daylight throughout the entire summer. This is because it is tilted toward the sun on its axis at 23.5 degrees. This tilt, together with the Earth’s orbit around the sun, causes the seasons.
Elsewhere in the Arctic Circle, the sun will be visible on the horizon throughout the summer.
But, close to equal amounts of daylight and sunlight are coming soon. On Sept. 22, the day of the fall equinox, the sun will be directly overhead the equator. On this date, day and night will each be 12 hours along the planet’s midsection, and close to equal in latitudes further away.
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