While a summer solstice and a new moon are not really that special, the fact that they do occur on the same day is worth getting excited about because the last time that occurred was 70 years ago.
The 2016 North American summer solstice will happen on June 20, 2016, at 6:34 PM EDT or 22:34 GMT. At that very moment, and it only lasts for the slow blink of an eye, the sun will stand still at its northernmost point as seen from Earth. It is at this point in time that the sun’s zenith isn’t apparent, north or south, instead, it hangs around very patiently at the Tropic of Cancer before it journeys south again.
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern Tropic, is the most northerly circle of latitude on the Earth where the Sun may appear directly overhead at its culmination. This is also where we get the word solstice. It comes from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop).
The longest day of the year
The summer solstice may be called the longest day of the year, but time-wise, it still only has 24 hours. But it is the amount of sunlight that makes it so, This year, we will have 15.5 hours of sunlight. And of course, on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, we will have the least number of hours of daylight, starting on December 21, 2016, 10:44 GMT
June 20 may or may not be the first day of summer, depending on the definition you wish to believe. Meteorologists mark the day as the first day of summer, while astronomers believe the summer solstice marks the start of the season. So what’s the difference, you might ask? NOAA explains it — meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle, while astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth relative to the sun.
Stonehenge’s significance to the summer solstice
The exact purpose for the building of Stonehenge in Avebury, Wiltshire UK is not known for sure. It was constructed over a period of time, in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C.
We do know the stones are arranged to align with the Earth’s solstices. Around 20,000 people are expected at the site this year to see the rising sun shine on the stones of the central alter that one day of the year. Celebrations will occur around the world. Probably the best traditional reason for celebrating the summer solstice was because it occurred between planting and harvesting seasons. The start of the summer solstice was a time of relaxing from labor in the fields, and a perfect time for a wedding.
Honey and strawberry moons
The full moon in June was called the “honey moon” because this was a good time to take honey from the beehives. Of course, this laborious work of trying to get honey from angry bees turned into the post-wedding trip known as a honeymoon.
The June full moon is also called the “strawberry moon,” based on the tales of early native American tribes. They measured time by the seasons and other celestial events. The full moon in June just happened to coincide with the ripening of the wild strawberries. By the way, it still holds true.
Meteorologist or astronomer, whatever your beliefs, the stories behind many of the worldwide celestial events we take for granted can be fascinating.
