Longest Day of 2023

Today is the longest day of the year, in this hemisphere at least. Known as the summer solstice, it marks the astronomical start of the summer and provides an extraordinary view as the sun seems to “stand still”. While the solstice is the longest day, it is not the earliest sunrise or the latest sunset. Despite the weather breaking 90 degrees, the solstice occurs when the Earth is farthest from the sun. 

As we soak up the extra daylight, you might wonder why the solstice occurs?. Why is our day so long? Why is the sun moving a little funny today? The summer solstice occurs at the moment the Earth’s tilt toward the sun is at a maximum. Therefore, on the day of the summer solstice, the sun appears at its highest elevation with a noontime position that changes very little and even “stands still” for several days before and after the summer solstice. 

Put simply, the Earth’s axis stands at an angle, meaning not all of our days last as long throughout the year. During the summer months, the North Pole is tilted closer to the sun. Thus, the northern hemisphere receives longer days. On the solstice, we are tilted the closest to the sun, giving us the longest day of the year. From here on, the Earth begins to tilt in the opposite direction, and we head towards the winter. 

Whether you are taking the extra sun to get a little more work done or have a late picnic on your favorite hike, you can’t miss out on this radiant spectacle. The solstice will also give stargazers a unique opportunity to see a celestial gathering of the moon, Mars, and Venus. Though we can’t stay up all night to enjoy the remarkable sightseeing, here’s to the start of summer, the warm weather, and the longest day of the year!