Long day? As a matter of fact, it is
Summer solstice marks the beginning of, well, summer
Published: Fri, Jun. 20, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Fri, Jun. 20, 2008 05:23AM
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closeRecord-breaking heat and swimming pools packed with kids may have fooled us into thinking it was summer, but the season doesn't officially begin until tonight at 7:59, when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky, a moment we refer to as the summer solstice.
WHAT IS THE SOLSTICE?
Contrary to popular belief, the heat of summer has nothing to do with how close Earth is to the sun, but rather how far the earth is tilted toward or away from the sun.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
What: A Family Celebration of Summer Solstice
When: Saturday, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: The Forest Theatre at the N.C. Botanical Garden
CB 3375, Totten Center
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Admission: Free
What: Summer solstice celebration and fundraiser for JC Raulston Arboretum
When: Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: The Nature of Art
5229 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
www.thenatureofartframeshop.com/
Admission: $10
The day the sun stands still
* Latin roots. The word solstice comes from the Latin "sol," meaning sun, and "sistere," to stand still. The summer solstice marks the day when the sun appears to "stand still" in its journey northward, and begin moving south again in the sky.
* Hot fun. Just as the timing of Christmas has its origins in the ancient celebration of the winter solstice, the Feast of John the Baptist on June 24 evolved from ancient celebrations of the summer solstice. The tradition observed around the world of jumping over bonfires on St. John's day is a remnant of ancient summer solstice rituals.
* Monumental inspiration. A number of archaeological sites appear to be oriented according to the rising of the sun at the summer and winter solstices. Of these, Stonehenge in the United Kingdom is probably the most famous. Other examples include El Caracol at the Maya city of Chichen Itza, and several Aboriginal stone arrangements in the Australian state of Victoria.
More Local & State
Summer arrives when the northern half of the earth is pointed toward the sun, allowing the sun's rays to hit us straight on. When the southern half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, the sun's rays hit the northern hemisphere at a slant. This reduces the strength of the sunlight, causing winter here.
This evening, the northern half of the earth will be tilted as far toward the sun as it will get this year. Because of this, the sun can shine on the largest possible fraction of the northern hemisphere at once, making the "daytime" side of the earth much larger than the "nighttime" side. This is why the summer solstice not only signals a change of season, but also marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.
From the Triangle, the sun will appear approximately 78.5 degrees above the southern horizon at noon, and will be visible in the sky for more than 14 1/2 hours.
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