Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Summer Solstice 2023

According to Space.com summer officially began today at 10:57 am, EST. (And you thought it was just all day June 21st!) The reason there is an actual, specific time is because it the exact time that the sun is directly overhead 23.5° North Latitude (the Tropic of Cancer). It is for this reason that the first day of summer is the longest day of the year, summer solstice, and the official "first day of summer" and the next season here in the Northern Hemisphere. (This, of course, makes it the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first day of winter.)

What were you doing at 10:57 am EST?


Here, I was in the middle of a professional development class. (Yes, the first week of out of school and beginning of summer vacation). It's a dreary, kind of cool, rainy day and it feels pretty far from being your idyllic sunny, first day of summer. Based on both parts, I have yet to feel like it's actually summer yet... but we needed the rain.

Where I'm at, we scored a 5:38 am sunrise and a 8:37 pm sunset, making our longest day of the year 14 hours, 58 minutes. Not too shabby. Although, it does counter my initial instinct of "Oh no! Now the days are getting shorter! The end is near!😱" I need to kick in the inner conversation: No, no it's not. Just breathe, dear. We have 6 entire months of days getting shorter to get us to winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and December 21st. We have more than just a little time!

To find out just how many daylight hours you have (both here today and every day between now and winter solstice), check out the Farmer's Almanac Sunrise-Sunset Calculator. About as easy as it gets, all you need to do is put in your location and choose your date. Case in point, I'll only have about 10.5 hours of sunlight on my next birthday. Better soak up the sun now while I can!

No comments :

Post a Comment