Summer Solstice - Blog Posts
Summer is literally glow up season
I go to the beach every dayy → the salt water helps my oily skin and clears up my acne.
I wear a bunch of sunscreen → my skin is moisturized and protected and I get a cute tan obvii.
I eat a bunch of fruit cuz now it's in season and I walk everywhere → I lose some excess weight.
Watch me go to school in September looking unrecognisable. I love love love summerrrr ⛱️🌞
Drew a certain royal sunbutt because today is Summer Solstice (Or the Summer Sun Celebration in Equestria)
The Summer Solstice Is Here!
Today — June 20, 2024 — is the northern summer solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the longest day of the year and the official start to summer.
We experience changing day lengths throughout the year because Earth rotates on a tilted axis as it goes around the Sun. This means during half of the year the North Pole tilts toward the Sun and in the other half it points away.
Solstices occur twice per year, when Earth’s poles are tilted closest to and farthest from the Sun.
The summer solstice is an important day for cultures around the world, especially at latitudes near the North Pole. Indigenous peoples have long marked the summer solstice with dancing and celebrations. Farmers have relied on the solstice to determine when to plant crops. The solstice’s timing also influenced the development of some calendars, like the ancient Roman calendar and the modern Gregorian calendar.
To mark the beginning of summer, here are four ways you can enjoy the Sun and the many wonders of space this season:
1. Check out the “Strawberry Moon”
June is the month of the Strawberry Moon. This name originates with the Algonquin tribes. June is when strawberries are ready for harvest in the northeastern United States, where the Algonquin people traditionally live. The full Strawberry Moon this year happens tomorrow night — June 21, 2024. Grab a pair of binoculars to see it in detail.
2. Celebrate the Heliophysics Big Year!
During the Heliophysics Big Year, we are challenging you to participate in as many Sun-related activities as you can. This month’s theme is performance art. We’re looking at how various kinds of performance artists are moved by the Sun and its influence on Earth. For example, check out this Sun song!
Find out how to get involved here: https://science.nasa.gov/sun/helio-big-year/.
3. Listen to a space-cast
NASA has a ton of great space podcasts. Take a listen to Curious Universe’s Here Comes the Sun series to learn all about our closest star, from how it causes weather in space, to how you can help study it! For even more podcasts, visit our full list here: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts.
4. Make sunspot cookies
The Sun sometimes has dark patches called sunspots. You can make your own sunspots with our favorite cookie recipe. Real sunspots aren’t made of chocolate, but on these sunspot cookies they are. And they're delicious.
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Summer Starts in the Northern Hemisphere!
Today is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere -- the solstice! People located in the Northern Hemisphere will have the longest day of the year today, and people located in the Southern Hemisphere will have the shortest day of the year.
The angle between the Earth’s orbit and the axis of its rotation creates our seasons, tilting each hemisphere toward the Sun during summer in that half of the Earth. This is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The other half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, creating winter in the north and summer in the south.
Solstices happen twice per year, at the points in Earth’s orbit where this tilt is most pronounced.
These days are the longest (in the summer hemisphere) and shortest (in the winter hemisphere) of the year, and mark the change of seasons to summer and winter, respectively.
For more Earth science, follow NASA Earth on Twitter, on Facebook, or on the web.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!
Special Celestial Events in June 2020
Earth and the Moon are in a constant dance as they orbit the Sun — and in June 2020, they’ll create two special celestial events.
June 20: Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere
Earth has a slight tilt as it orbits the Sun, and June is one of two times each year when that tilt is most prominent: a solstice. At the solstices, which happen each year in June and December, Earth’s tilt is at the greatest angle with respect to the plane of its orbit, meaning that one hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, and the other hemisphere is tilted away.
In the Northern Hemisphere, June 20 is the summer solstice — the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, so the June solstice is the day on which the Northern Hemisphere receives the longest stretch of daylight for the year.
In both hemispheres, the Sun will rise and set at its northernmost point on the horizon. After June 20, the Sun will appear to travel south.
This view from our Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's DSCOVR satellite shows the change in Earth’s tilt between the June and December solstices.
During the June solstice, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, meaning the June solstice marks its shortest stretch of daylight for the year. June is the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice.
June 21: Annular solar eclipse in Africa and Asia
The day after the solstice will see another special celestial event: an annular eclipse. Eclipses happen when the Moon lines up just right between the Sun and Earth, allowing it to block out part or all of the Sun’s bright face and cast a shadow on Earth. Though the Moon orbits Earth about once a month, its orbit is tilted by five degrees, so the perfect alignment that creates an eclipse is relatively rare. Often the Moon is too high or low in our sky to block out the Sun.
The June 21, 2020, eclipse is an annular eclipse visible primarily in Africa and Asia. During an annular eclipse, the Moon is too far from Earth and its apparent size is too small to entirely block out the face of the Sun, leaving a sliver of the Sun visible around the Moon’s edge during the eclipse and creating a “ring of fire” effect.
Credit: Dale Cruikshank
Outside the path of annularity, people in other parts of Africa, Asia and even some of Europe and the Pacific have a chance to see a partial solar eclipse, weather permitting. The degree of the partial eclipse depends on how close you are to the path of annularity. Locations far from the path of annularity will see only a small part of the Sun covered by the Moon, while places close to the path will see almost all of the Sun obscured.
No matter where you are, you must take safety precautions to watch the eclipse safely. There is no part of an annular eclipse during which it is safe to look directly at the Sun. You must use a proper solar filter or an indirect viewing method during all phases of the eclipse — even if only a tiny sliver of the Sun is visible around the Moon’s edge, that’s still enough to cause damage to your eyes.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
The Summer Solstice Has Arrived!
This year’s summer solstice for the northern hemisphere arrives at 11:54 a.m. EDT, meaning today is the longest day of the year! The number of daylight hours varies by latitude, so our headquarters in Washington, D.C. will see 14 hours, 53 minutes, and 51 seconds of daylight. A lot can happen in that time! Let’s find out more.
If you’re spending the day outside, you might be in the path of our Earth Science Satellite Fleet (ESSF)! The fleet, made up of over a dozen Earth observation satellites, will pass over the continental United States about 37 times during today’s daylight hours.
These missions collect data on atmospheric chemistry and composition, cloud cover, ocean levels, climate, ecosystem dynamics, precipitation, and glacial movement, among other things. They aim to do everything from predicting extreme weather to helping informing the public and decision makers with the environment through GPS and imaging. Today, their sensors will send back over 200 gigabytes (GB) of data back to the ground by sunset.
As the sun sets today, the International Space Station (ISS) will be completing its 10th orbit since sunrise. In that time, a little more than 1 terabyte-worth of data will be downlinked to Earth.
That number encompasses data from ground communications, payloads, experiments, and control and navigation signals for the station. Approximately 330 GB of that TB is video, including live broadcasts and downlinks with news outlets. But as recently-returned astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor likes to point out, there’s still room for fun. The astronauts aboard the ISS can request YouTube videos or movies for what she likes to call “family movie night.”
Astronauts aboard the station also send back images—LOTS of them. Last year, astronauts sent back an average of 66,912 images per month! During today’s long hours of daylight, we expect the crew to send back about 656 images. But with Expedition 59 astronauts David Saint-Jacques (CSA), Anne McClain (NASA), and Oleg Kononenko (RKA) hard at work preparing to return to Earth on Monday, that number might be a little less.
Say you’re feeling left out after seeing the family dinners and want to join the crew. Would you have enough daylight to travel to the ISS and back on the longest day of the year? Yes, but only if you’re speedy enough, and plan your launch just right. With the current fastest launch-to-docking time of about six hours, you could complete two-and-a-half flights to the ISS today between sunrise and sunset.
When returning from orbit, it’s a longer ordeal. After the Expedition 59 trio arrives on Earth Monday night, they’ll have to travel from Kazakhstan to Houston to begin their post-flight activities. Their journey should take about 18 hours and 30 minutes, just a few hours longer than the hours of daylight we’ll see today.
Happy solstice! Make sure to tune in with us on Monday night for live coverage of the return of Expedition 59. Until then, enjoy the longest day of the year!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.
The Science Behind the Summer Solstice
Today – Thursday, June 21 – is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. But what causes this change in seasons? And what exactly is a solstice? It’s all about Earth’s tilt!
Many people believe that Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and that is why it is hotter. And, likewise, they think Earth is farthest from the Sun in the winter.
Although this idea makes sense, it is incorrect. There is a different reason for Earth's seasons.
Earth's axis is an imaginary pole going right through the center of Earth from "top" to "bottom." Earth spins around this pole, making one complete turn each day. That is why we have day and night, and why every part of Earth's surface gets some of each.
Earth has seasons because its axis doesn't stand up straight. Today, the north pole is tipped toward the Sun, and the south pole is tipped away from the Sun. The northern summer solstice is an instant in time when the north pole of the Earth points more directly toward the Sun than at any other time of the year. It marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere.
To mark the beginning of summer, here are four ways to enjoy the many wonders of space throughout the season:
1. Spot the International Space Station
As the third brightest object in the sky, the International Space Station is easy to see if you know when to look up. Sign up to get alerts when the station is overhead: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/. Visible to the naked eye, it looks like a fast-moving plane only much higher and traveling thousands of miles an hour faster!
2. Treat your ears to space-related podcasts
From our “Gravity Assist” podcast that takes you on a journey through the solar system (including the Sun!) to our “NASA in Silicon Valley” podcast that provides an in-depth look at people who push the boundaries of innovation, we have podcast offerings that will suit everyone’s taste. For a full list of our podcasts, visit https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts.
3. Explore space by downloading NASA apps
Our apps for smartphones, tablets and digital media players showcase a huge collection of space-related content, including images, videos on-demand, NASA Television, mission information, feature stories, satellite tracking and much more. For a full list of our apps available for download, visit https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html
4. Watch launches to space
This summer, we have multiple opportunities for you to take in the sights of spacecraft launches that will deliver supplies and equipment to astronauts living aboard the International Space Station, explore our solar system and much more. Be sure to mark your calendar for upcoming launches and landings!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Sunrise at Stonehenge marks The Longest Day of The Year and The Start of Summer!
21 iune - MIDSOMMAR :)
![21 Iune = SUMMER SOLSTICE [midsommar]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc20cddca9a53e1affb8188ec87d937/66724283cb93281e-69/s540x810/fcc4e62772b9f25de162f350b188f4d0e9e4a129.jpg)
21 iune = SUMMER SOLSTICE [midsommar]
Happy Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere! Happy Summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere!
Google Doodles created by /Olivia When (also known as Olivia Huynh), 2017 (X).
Midsummer
I feel laden with unsaid dreams
spilling over my hair, my feet
walking through a daylit night
full of sparkling stars and troubled sleep
So I tried this recipe for lemon cookies today, because I love lemons and it seemed like a fun thing to do for the beginning of summer. It was really good! As advertised, they are very soft and chewy (and delicious).
It takes a little while, particularly if you don’t have any lemon zest on hand, but they’re cookies worth making if you have some time to spare.
(Actually, though, the recipe calls for two whole tablespoons of lemon zest! I didn’t have enough lemons for that, so after I’d taken all the zest from four lemons I stopped and just used what I had. So my cookies are probably not quite as lemony as the original, but they’re still good.)
I had them with my family with a dusting of sugar on top and some chilled blueberry-lavender tea!
La Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Saint John the Baptist Day) - June 24th 2022
My personal way of celebrating as a folk witch! Background information on the holiday from the Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, and Sages by Judika Illes. And my own French Canadian upbringing.
Happy Saint John the Baptist Day everyone!
This holiday is special for French Canadians all over. For many, it's a day to celebrate one's Quebec heritage and culture, and the French language in Quebec. For me, it is about acknowledging a very special saint in the Christian mythos: Saint John the Baptist.
John was born to Elizabeth, a relative of Mary (yes, that Mary). John kicked in the womb, excited to be near what will be the future Messiah not yet born. He was born before Jesus, and baptized followers in the River Jordan. He takes on the role of announcer of a Messiah to come for the followers. As he does so, he says, "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30). The sun declines in strength and longevity with each passing day after the solstice. John announces his declining presence to the upcoming Christmas sun, Jesus Christ, exactly six months from now. Let that sink in.
June 24th also coincides with the summer solstice on June 21st-22nd, and that is by no accident at all. This festival has been merged with Pagan summer solstice celebrations and has been celebrated since the 5th century, and it is among the oldest in the Church calendar. It is by no accident that people celebrate this day with bonfires! He is also the patron saint of tailors and a protector of witches, so that makes him one of my favorites.
So tonight, I'm enjoying some blueberry tea, and offered Saint John the Baptist some honey. I also blessed my wooden ring again as I do every June 24th, to re-commit my devotion as a Heritage Witch and folk practitioner.
Herbs and Foraging
He is associated with healing waters, and healing herbs. It is tradition to go into the woods on the eve of this day to harvest herbs to be used in spells and healing charms for the whole year, as they are extra powerful thanks to this saint. Please forage responsibly and safely, and bring a buddy! Notable herbs would be:
-Saint John's Wort
-Mullein
-Wormwood
-Mugwort
Notable and thematic songs I am listening to tonight:
-Bowen's Barley Field by Luc Arbogast
-Sentinel (Ultimum Cantum Arborum) by Luc Arbogast
-Le Picbois by Beau Dommage
-Promentory, composed by Trevor Jones from The Last of the Mohicans
Love it when my oracle cards are ominous.
Lol.
Also look at my beautiful solstice candle that my parents got me!! My Catholic dad made himself go into a witchy shop to get it.
Dozhinki, the harvest of Jarilo
Between Slavics, they celebrated the harvest of Autumn, which, in ancient times, were dedicated to Jarilo, God of Vegetation, who in Autumn descends in the Underworld.
During this festival the last sheaf of August was decorated with ribbons, symbols, berries and flowers. Besides of the sheaf, they prepared large garlands with bundles of wheat, that will be used during the parade; everything will end with dances, chants, banquets and binge drinkings.
Anciently, the festival was dedicate to the beauty Jarilo, a young God, blinde like wheat and eternally shoeless because where he walked, the earth would regenerate.
The whole mythology which recalls to him is the description of seasonal cycle. Jarilo, son of the God of Thunder Perun, was born the last night of February (anciently was New Year's Eve) and the same day had been kidnapped from the God of Underworld Veles and grew up as his son. During Spring, Jarilo went back to the surface, coming back to life generating vegetation.
During Summer he marries his twin Morana, Goddess of Nature and Death, but in Autumn he is ceremonially killed. Later also Morana dies for the lack of Jarilo, but they both rebirth during Summer Solstice.
The summer solstice speaks of love and light, of freedom and generosity of spirit. It is the time of the year where vibrant flowers whisper to us with scented breath, forests and woodlands hang heavy in the summer’s heat and our souls become enchanted with midsummer magic.
Happy Summer Solstice!