Latest news with #FêteDeLaMusique
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
What to know about the summer solstice in the UK
The summer solstice marks the official start of summer, occurring when Earth's North Pole is angled closest to the Sun, bringing the longest day and shortest night to the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the exact moment of the solstice will be at 10:42 PM Eastern Time on June 20, which translates to 3:42 AM on June 21 in the United Kingdom. People worldwide traditionally observe the change of seasons around the solstice with various celebrations, including bonfires, festivals, and Fête de la Musique. The word "solstice" means "solar standstill," reflecting how the Sun's angle appears to shift very gradually for about 10 days around this time. Ancient monuments like Stonehenge, Karnak, and Chankillo reveal that civilizations have tracked the Sun's northern and southern travels for over 5,000 years.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
Astronomer reveals the exact time of this year's summer solstice
The summer solstice marks the official start of summer. It brings the longest day and shortest night of the year for the 88 per cent of Earth 's people who live in the Northern Hemisphere. People around the world traditionally observe the change of seasons with bonfires and festivals, and Fête de la Musique celebrations. Astronomers can calculate an exact moment for the solstice, when Earth reaches the point in its orbit where the North Pole is angled closest to the Sun. That moment will be at 10.42pm Eastern Time on June 20 this year - or 3.42am on June 21 in the United Kingdom. In Europe, Africa and points eastward, the moment of the equinox falls on June 21 locally, making that the day of the solstice. From Earth, the Sun will appear farthest north relative to the stars. People living on the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the Equator, will see the Sun pass straight overhead at noon. Six months from now, the Sun will reach its southern extreme and pass overhead for people on the Tropic of Capricorn, and northerners will experience their shortest days of the year at the winter solstice. The Sun's angle relative to Earth's equator changes so gradually close to the solstices that, without instruments, the shift is difficult to perceive for about 10 days. This is the origin of the word solstice, which means 'solar standstill.' This slow shift means that daylight on June 20 is only about 2 seconds longer than on June 21, at mid-northern latitudes in the United States. It will be about a week before there's more than a minute change to the calculated amount of daylight. Even that's an approximation — Earth's atmosphere bends light over the horizon by different amounts depending on weather, which can introduce changes of more than a minute to sunrise and sunset times. Monuments at Stonehenge in England, Karnak in Egypt, and Chankillo in Peru reveal that people around the world have taken note of the Sun's northern and southern travels for more than 5,000 years. From Stonehenge's circle of standing stones, the Sun will rise directly over an ancient avenue leading away to the northeast on the solstice. We know little about the people who built Stonehenge, or why they went to such great effort to construct it, moving multi-ton stones from rock outcrops as far as 140 miles away. All this to mark the spot on the horizon where the Sun returns each year to rest for a while before moving south again. Perhaps they, like us, celebrated this signal of the coming change of seasons. Stephen Schneider is a Professor of Astronomy at UMass Amherst.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Astronomer reveals the exact minute of this year's summer solstice
The summer solstice marks the official start of summer. It brings the longest day and shortest night of the year for the 88 per cent of Earth 's people who live in the Northern Hemisphere. People around the world traditionally observe the change of seasons with bonfires and festivals, and Fête de la Musique celebrations. Astronomers can calculate an exact moment for the solstice, when Earth reaches the point in its orbit where the North Pole is angled closest to the Sun. That moment will be at 10.42pm Eastern Time on June 20 this year - or 3.42am on June 21 in the United Kingdom. In Europe, Africa and points eastward, the moment of the equinox falls on June 21 locally, making that the day of the solstice. From Earth, the Sun will appear farthest north relative to the stars. People living on the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the Equator, will see the Sun pass straight overhead at noon. Six months from now, the Sun will reach its southern extreme and pass overhead for people on the Tropic of Capricorn, and northerners will experience their shortest days of the year at the winter solstice. The Sun's angle relative to Earth's equator changes so gradually close to the solstices that, without instruments, the shift is difficult to perceive for about 10 days. This is the origin of the word solstice, which means 'solar standstill.' This slow shift means that daylight on June 20 is only about 2 seconds longer than on June 21, at mid-northern latitudes in the United States. It will be about a week before there's more than a minute change to the calculated amount of daylight. Even that's an approximation — Earth's atmosphere bends light over the horizon by different amounts depending on weather, which can introduce changes of more than a minute to sunrise and sunset times. Monuments at Stonehenge in England, Karnak in Egypt, and Chankillo in Peru reveal that people around the world have taken note of the Sun's northern and southern travels for more than 5,000 years. From Stonehenge's circle of standing stones, the Sun will rise directly over an ancient avenue leading away to the northeast on the solstice. We know little about the people who built Stonehenge, or why they went to such great effort to construct it, moving multi-ton stones from rock outcrops as far as 140 miles away. All this to mark the spot on the horizon where the Sun returns each year to rest for a while before moving south again. Perhaps they, like us, celebrated this signal of the coming change of seasons. Stephen Schneider is a Professor of Astronomy at UMass Amherst.
Mail & Guardian
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Diary: 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Fête de la Musique returns to Victoria Yards and Thandiswa Mazwai brings Belede and Sankofa to The Lyric Theatre
Taking off: Alice Viskat's Flughafen is playing in Scotland. Electrifying local play at the Edinburgh Fringe Get ready to be stranded—in the best way possible. Flughafen makes its international debut at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a one-hour whirlwind of screwball comedy, mystery and emotional intensity. Set in a storm-lashed German airport terminal, four strangers face more than just flight delays as secrets unravel in real-time. The brainchild of Cape Town's rising star Alice Viskat, this chamber piece blends Knives Out-style tension with the Cold War intrigue of The Americans. With a cast led by Melissa Pretorius (MelFunktion) and a script that veers from hilarious to haunting, Flughafen promises an atmospheric theatre experience. It's also a milestone — one of fewer than 15 female-directed South African productions to grace the Fringe in 78 years. Catch it at Freddy's (Venue 194), daily from 31 July to 24 August (except 8 August). Book via the Fringe website. Fête isn't just a concert – it's a cultural movement The Fête de la Musique returns to Victoria Yards, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 21 June, for its 14th edition — and it's bigger than ever. Running from 1pm to 7pm, with free entry, this vibrant celebration of sound and community coincides with the 50th anniversary of Unesco's International Music Day and 30 years of the French Institute of South Africa. Expect an eclectic mix of more than 20 acts, including headliners Sun-El Musician and Bongeziwe Mabandla, both of whom lit up the stage a decade ago. From soulful soloists to poetic collectives, the line-up showcases raw local talent selected from more than 300 applications. The event also shines a spotlight on sustainability with support from the KiCK initiative and offers hands-on experience for young creatives through the Live Music Lab. Come for the beats — stay for the vibe. Thandiswa Mazwai fans are in for a rare treat Celebration: Thandiswa Mazwai will be on stage at Gold Reef City. Thandiswa Mazwai brings her unmistakable voice and artistry to The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City on Sunday, 29 June for a one-night-only performance of Belede x Sankofa. Backed by a stellar jazz quartet, Thandiswa will journey through the powerful sonic landscapes of her acclaimed albums Belede and Sankofa, offering an evening steeped in memory, homage and Afro-futurist spirit. Expect meditative, emotionally charged arrangements that reflect her personal and musical encounters with legends like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, as well as her travels across Africa. This performance marks a year since the release of Sankofa, and Mazwai will curate a set that honours her roots while expanding the boundaries of contemporary African jazz. Tickets at Webtickets range from R400 to R1 000.
