Summer approaches: 2 Weeks until the season officially begins
Beaches expected to be crowded by summer vacationers
CAIRO - 12 June 2025: Less than two weeks separate us from the official beginning of summer and the summer solstice.
The vernal equinox occurred, and spring officially began on Thursday, March 20, 2025, lasting 92 days, 17 hours, and 35 minutes.
According to astronomical calculations, summer officially begins on Saturday, June 21, and lasts 92 days, 39 hours, and 37 minutes.
Immediately after the winter solstice, the sun began its gradual movement northward, approaching the equator. Its sunshine period increased in the Northern Hemisphere and decreased in the Southern Hemisphere, until its rays were completely perpendicular to the equator around March 20, the vernal equinox.
This year's summer solstice occurs on June 21, 2025. On that day, the sun rises from the far northeast, and shadows cast at noon will be the shortest of the year. At the summer solstice, the sun takes its maximum apparent arc toward the north, and it is the highest sun as seen from the Tropic of Cancer and all northern regions. Daylight hours will be longer than nighttime hours, and it will set in the far northwest.
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Saudi Gazette
11 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Summer season begins astronomically on Saturday
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The skies over Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere witnessed the summer solstice at 5:42 AM Makkah time on Saturday, June 21. At this moment, the sun came directly overhead above the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 23.5° N), marking the beginning of astronomical summer. This year, the astronomical summer will last 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes. The Jeddah Astronomical Society President Eng. Majed Abu Zahra said that on this day, the sun rises from the far northeast and sets in the far northwest. At noon, the shadows of objects are the shortest of the year, and the sun's apparent path takes its highest arc northward, placing it at its highest altitude in the sky of the year, especially in areas north of the equator. Abu Zahra pointed out that it is important to differentiate between astronomical summer and climatic summer. Meteorologists consider summer to extend from June 1 to August 31, while in astronomy, summer begins when the sun reaches its maximum altitude, i.e., the day of the summer solstice. Although this day is the longest day of the year in terms of the number of hours of sunlight, it is not necessarily the hottest. This is because the oceans, land and atmosphere take time to absorb and store solar energy, then re-emit it. This delay in feeling the heat is known as the 'seasonal lag', and temperatures usually peak in July or August. Abu Zahra said that the summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its apparent northernmost point in the sky. This coincides with the Earth reaching a position in its orbit where its axis is tilted at the maximum angle (23.5 degrees) toward the sun, causing the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, while the situation is completely reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. "The summer solstice does not occur on the same day every year, but rather between June 20 and 22. This is due to the difference between the calendar year (365 days) and the tropical year (365.2422 days), along with the gravitational effects of the moon and planets, and the slight fluctuations in the Earth's rotation, which are compensated for by adding a leap day every four years," he said.
Gulf Insider
14 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Summer Begins With Longest Day And Shortest Night Across Saudi Arabia
At precisely 5:42 a.m. local time on Saturday, June 21, 2025, the sun stood directly above the Tropic of Cancer, signaling the arrival of the summer solstice across Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomers say this marks the beginning of summer in astronomical terms, a season that will last 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes this year. On this day, the sun rises from its northernmost point on the horizon and sets at its furthest northwestern point. It also traces its highest arc across the sky, particularly noticeable in regions north of the equator, and casts the shortest noontime shadows of the year. Majid Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, said that the solstice occurs when the Earth's axial tilt reaches its maximum angle of 23.5 degrees toward the sun. 'This causes the sun to appear at its most northerly point in the sky,' he said, 'resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.' But while the solstice consistently occurs around June 21, the date can vary slightly, falling between June 20 and 22, due to the mismatch between the Gregorian calendar year (365 days) and the solar year (365.2422 days), as well as gravitational influences from the Moon and planets, and minor variations in Earth's rotation. These shifts are periodically corrected by the addition of leap days. Abu Zahra also highlighted the distinction between astronomical and meteorological summer. 'While meteorologists define summer as the period from June 1 to August 31, astronomers define it from the summer solstice onward,' he said. Interestingly, the solstice does not coincide with the hottest day of the year. Due to a phenomenon known as 'seasonal lag,' the land, oceans, and atmosphere take time to absorb and re-radiate solar energy, meaning peak temperatures typically occur in July or August. The summer solstice also holds historical significance. Abu Zahra noted that the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes famously used observations from the solstice to estimate the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy, relying solely on basic geometry and the difference in shadow lengths between two cities. Following Saturday's solstice, the sun will begin its apparent journey southward, gradually shortening daylight hours until the autumnal equinox on September 22.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
June 21 Marks Year's Longest Day: All About the Summer Solstice
As the Northern Hemisphere steps into summer, June 21, 2025, stands out as a remarkable astronomical event—welcoming the longest day and the shortest night of the year, known as the summer solstice. At precisely 8:12 am IST, the solstice occurs when Earth's axis leans at its maximum toward the Sun. This alignment places the Sun directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, allowing regions like India, the United States, and Europe to bask in extended daylight. The North Pole, in fact, will witness a full 24 hours of sunlight. This phenomenon is driven by Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt, which not only governs the seasons but also determines the length of daylight each region receives throughout the year. The tilt causes the Sun's rays to strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly and for a longer span during the summer solstice. Interestingly, the solstice date can vary slightly every year due to Earth's orbital period of approximately 365.25 days. This small difference is corrected through leap years, which help sync our calendar with Earth's celestial movements. While June 21 marks peak sunlight for the Northern Hemisphere, it is quite the opposite for the Southern Hemisphere. Regions as far south as the Antarctic Circle enter polar night—a stretch where the Sun doesn't rise above the horizon at all. Beyond its scientific relevance, the summer solstice carries deep cultural and historical significance. Civilizations from ancient Egypt to pre-modern Europe have honored this celestial moment. One of the most iconic tributes continues at Stonehenge, where thousands gather to witness the Sun rising through the ancient stone structure—a tradition rooted in millennia. In India, the solstice also sets the stage for International Yoga Day, observed on the same day. This global celebration emphasizes harmony between mind, body, and the natural world, symbolizing the connection between humanity and the cosmos. Though June 21 heralds the official start of astronomical summer, it also marks the gradual shortening of days. From June 22 onward, daylight hours begin to wane—reminding us of the Earth's continuous and graceful orbit around the Sun.
