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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Science
- Toronto Sun
The summer solstice is here. What to know about the longest day of the year
Published Jun 20, 2025 • 2 minute read A man prepares to enter the water as the sun rises above the Miribel lake, outside Lyon, France, June 18, 2022. Photo by Laurent Cipriani / AP Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start. The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin words 'sol' for sun and 'stitium' which can mean 'pause' or 'stop.' The solstice is the end of the sun's annual march higher in the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The bad news for sun lovers: It then starts retreating and days will get a little shorter every day until late December. People have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments, including Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the sun's paths at the solstices. But what is happening in the heavens? Here's what to know about the Earth's orbit. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle relative to the sun. For most of the year, the Earth's axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet. The solstices mark the times during the year when this tilt is at its most extreme, and days and nights are at their most unequal. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22. Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. During the equinox, the Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That's because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The Northern Hemisphere's spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall — or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24. On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time. What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are just two different ways to carve up the year. While astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1. Toronto & GTA MMA Columnists World NHL
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Summer Solstice 2025: When Is The Longest Day Of Year & What Does It Mean?
As summer approaches, the Northern Hemisphere anticipates the Summer Solstice 2025, marking the longest day of the year. This astronomical event occurs when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the Sun, resulting in the greatest number of daylight hours and the shortest night. When is the Summer Solstice 2025? The Summer Solstice 2025 will take place on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 PM EDT (0242 GMT on June 21). The exact moment signifies the beginning of summer and the peak of daylight for the Northern Hemisphere. Why Does the Summer Solstice Occur? The summer solstice occurs because Earth's North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its highest point in the sky. This alignment results in extended daylight hours, with early sunrises and late sunsets for regions in the Northern Hemisphere. What Does "Solstice" Mean? The term "solstice," derived from the Latin "solstitium" (meaning "sun stands still"), refers to the point when the Sun's apparent motion in the sky pauses before changing direction. Historical Significance of the Summer Solstice The solstice traditionally symbolises the start of summer and has captivated civilisations for millennia. Ancient Greeks like Eratosthenes used the solstice to accurately measure Earth's size. Structures like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu were strategically built to align with the sun during solstices, and in Egypt, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx align with the solstice sunset, demonstrating ancient peoples' deep understanding of the Sun's movements. Earth's Tilt and Its Impact Due to Earth's tilted axis of approximately 23.5 degrees, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at its most direct angle during the solstice, while the Southern Hemisphere enters winter, experiencing its shortest day and longest night. At the solstice's precise moment, the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, an imaginary line 23.5 degrees north of the equator, marking the beginning of the Sun's southward journey.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Crustal jar from the Galloway Hoard to go on show for first time
The Galloway Hoard, which was made up of more than 5kg of gold, silver and other materials, was discovered by a metal detectorist in Balmaghie, near Kirkcudbright, in 2014. Among the artefacts, the rock-crystal jar stood out as it was wrapped in linen, and placed in a leather pouch later revealed to be lined with silk. The pouch was then packed within a larger lidded vessel with two dozen other treasures. After painstaking conservation, the jar was found to bear a Latin inscription, also written in gold which translates as, 'Bishop Hyguald had me made.' The jar is thought to have belonged to a bishop (Image: NMS) When first seen, the object was hidden within its wrappings, but 3D X-ray imaging produced in partnership with the British Museum allowed the object to be observed without damaging it. This produced the first glimpse of the inscription on the base, enabling it to be read and translated. Over a number of months, the object was carefully separated from the textile wrapping, a rare medieval survival itself - which includes Scotland's earliest example of silk. Dr Martin Goldberg from National Museums Scotland said: 'The rock crystal jar is one of the highlight objects from the Galloway Hoard. 'From the beautiful rock crystal itself, originally carved in the form of a classical Corinthian column two thousand years ago, to the incredibly intricate gold decoration added hundreds of years later and including a clear inscription identifying its owner, this one object exemplifies the complex, connected and historic nature of the Galloway Hoard. 'The jar was the subject of international attention when we first revealed the inscription, and it's great to be able to put it on display it for the first time in Kirkcudbright.' The jar will go on show later this year (Image: NMS) Cllr Maureen Johnstone, Chair of the Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee, said: 'We are excited to see this important and unique object in Kirkcudbright. Dumfries and Galloway Council is very proud of the ongoing partnership with National Museums Scotland which has already produced two superb exhibitions at Kirkcudbright Galleries. 'I have no doubt the Rock Crystal Jar will be a fascinating exhibit, I am looking forward to it.' Due to gaps in church records in the 9th century, when the hoard is thought to have been buried, it has not been possible to more precisely identify Hyguald or where exactly he was based, but it is likely that he was a Northumbrian bishop. The inscription was the clearest evidence that some of the material in the hoard may have come from a church or religious community in the early medieval kingdom of Northumbria, which included Dumfries and Galloway, and stretched as far north as Edinburgh and as far south as Sheffield. Since this was first read, a further translation of an Old English runic inscription from an arm ring in the Galloway Hoard has been proposed, describing a portion of the hoard as 'the community's wealth'. Another clear Christian association in the hoard is a magnificent Anglo-Saxon pectoral cross inscribed with depictions of the four apostles. The Galloway Hoard was acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2017 with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, and the Scottish Government, as well as a major public fundraising campaign. Since then, it has undergone extensive conservation and research at the National Museums Collection Centre as well as having been shown at the National Museum of Scotland, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Kirkcudbright Galleries, where it attracted record-breaking visitor numbers. Further venues for the international tour will be announced in due course, as will plans for the hoard's future display after the tour's conclusion, including both in Edinburgh and in Kirkcudbright, near where it was discovered. The research in the hoard was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which awarded £1 million for the three-year research project Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard, led by National Museums Scotland in partnership with the University of Glasgow. The project has also seen collaboration with experts from across the UK and Ireland, including The British Museum, Oxford University, University of Wales (Trinity St David), St Andrews University, and University College Cork.
Indianapolis Star
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Indianapolis Star
When does summer start? What to know about the summer solstice in 2025
Summer is here, and it's about to get hot. Today is the first official day of summer and if you don't know where the nearest pool is, it's time to find out before Indiana's anticipated hot weather sets in. Friday, June 20, marks the first official day of summer in 2025. It's also the date of the summer solstice. The first day of summer changes annually, arriving on June 20, 21 or 22. That's because the earth's astronomical year is actually 365.25 days long, writes The National Weather Service in Indianapolis predicts highs in the low to mid-90s this weekend and into Monday. The heat index, or how hot it really feels when you factor both temperature and humidity, could be in the low 100s through Tuesday, according to the NWS. Story continues below gallery. The summer solstice, according to the National Weather Service, is when the earth's tilt toward the sun reaches its maximum noontime elevation. For everywhere north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky, resulting in the longest day of the year. Solstice is a combination of the Latin words sol, meaning "sun," and sistere, meaning "to stop," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It's derived from the Latin word solstitium. Or to put it in another way: solstice means "sun stands still." In the northern hemisphere, summer begins near the end of June and lasts through July, August and most of September. On Sept. 22, the autumnal equinox marks the start of fall. There are two solstices and two equinoxes every year, signaling the start of each new season. The summer solstice happens when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and marks the longest day of the year. The winter solstice is when the sun hits its lowest point, resulting in the shortest day of the year. Equinox means "equal night" in Latin, when nighttime and daytime are of equal lengths everywhere on the planet. Just like the solstice, there are two equinoxes — the vernal (first day of spring) and the autumnal (first day of fall).
Elle
7 hours ago
- General
- Elle
The Summer Solstice Is Here - And It's More Than A Cosmic Event, It's A Wake-Up Call
On June 20, the summer solstice will arrive, ushering in the longest, brightest day in the northern hemisphere. As the sun ascends to its highest elevation, a mirage takes place. For three days, that great ball of fire appears to hover in place in the sky. Fittingly, solstice is actually derived from two Latin words: 'sol' which means 'sun' and 'sistere' which means 'to stand still.' There's an invitation encoded in that name. Can we stand still for a few days? In a year dense with noise—protests in the streets, algorithms in overdrive—any break in the action might seem like denial or, worse, defeat. But we're not talking about freeze in the fight-or-flight sense. The solstice creates space for a purposeful pause, one that allows us to gather our inner strength. We also have an opportunity to sit in our emotional truth. Cancer season begins with the summer solstice each June, bringing a soulful sensitivity to the world. A gentle reminder streams in with the solstice: There is strength in our softness and our willingness to care. Fittingly, some of the most quietly commanding figures in modern history happen to be Cancerians, including Malala Yousafzai, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela. While they fought for different freedoms, they have this in common: Each one stood still and firm in their fight for human rights. You can read your daily horoscope here Malala Yousafzai, born July 12, survived a targeted attack from the Taliban for standing up for girls' education. She went on to become a global voice for empowering women and girls. Since 2013, her birthday has been honored as Malala Day, an annual international celebration focused on education advocacy. The Dalai Lama, born July 6, has modeled stillness as a source of strength since his exile from Tibet in 1959. Through his gentle teachings on compassion and unwavering commitment to peace, he's reminded the world that the refusal to retaliate with violence can be as impactful as protest. Legendary South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was born on July 18. After enduring 27 years of imprisonment, he became the country's first Black president in 1994. In the spirit of standing still, Mandela refused to be conditionally released from prison on certain occasions, choosing instead to uphold his principles. As the sun pauses at its peak this solstice, we're reminded that growth doesn't always look like motion. Sometimes, it looks like standing your ground or waiting for clarity. Like gathering light before the next season. It isn't inertia—it's calibration. The world will keep spinning, the headlines will keep coming, but for a moment, we're invited to take a cue from the cosmos: to be still, feel deeply, and choose our next step from a place of rooted knowing. The sun will move again, and so will we, but not before we take a breath. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Ophira and Tali Edut (The AstroTwins) are among the most sought-after astrologers and intuitive advisors of our times. As the longtime resident astrologers for ELLE Magazine and the authors of over 20 books, they are the advisors to a roster of CEOs, celebrities, global leaders and successful entrepreneurs. They've read charts for celebrities the likes of Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, and Emma Roberts. Their new book, The Astrology Advantage (Simon & Schuster), introduces The AstroTwins' revolutionary I*AM System, which simplifies the birth chart into three archetypes: Innovator, Authority, and Maven. On television, The AstroTwins have appeared as guest experts for Bravo, MTV, 'Good Morning America,' and the 'Today' show, and created the first streaming reality TV dating show based on astrology, Cosmic Love (Amazon Prime Video, 2022). Their work on the subject of 'spiritual technology' as an essential tool for business success has been featured in Fast Company and at leadership conferences around the world. Ophira and Tali have taught thousands of people their methods through their online platform, and at their signature retreats. Graduates of The University of Michigan, Ophira and Tali grew up in Detroit and currently live in New York and Seattle.
