Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Summer Solstice Is Here. What's Special About This One?
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 11 months ago on
June 20, 2024

Revelers gather at the ancient stone circle Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, near Salisbury, England, June 21, 2023. Summer kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere once again with the summer solstice on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s time for the start of summer — with a full moon to boot.

Here’s what to know about the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on Thursday.

What Is the Summer Solstice?

The Earth spins on a tilt as it revolves around the sun. The summer solstice occurs for Earth’s upper half when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most closely toward the sun. This also marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Around the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is at its most extreme tilt away from the sun, entering winter solstice and its shortest day of the year.

Six months later, the halves will switch it up: The Northern Hemisphere will experience a winter solstice, and the Southern Hemisphere will have a summer solstice.

What Is an Equinox?

Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn, and happen when Earth’s axis and orbit line up such that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

The vernal equinox on March 19 kicked off spring, and the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 will usher in fall.

What Is the Strawberry Moon?

This year’s summer solstice comes with a treat: the first full moon of the summer, coined the strawberry moon. The moon won’t be pink or red in color: Its name comes from several Indigenous tribes who noticed that its timing coincided with the strawberry harvest.

On Friday evening, cast your eyes to the southeast to glimpse the full moon peeking above the horizon.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Work Requirements Could Transform Medicaid and Food Aid Under US Budget Bill

DON'T MISS

Stop Making Cents: US Mint Moves Forward With Plans to Kill the Penny

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Detectives Revive 2017 Drive-By Murder Case

DON'T MISS

Will the Pacific Coast Highway Reopen for Memorial Day Weekend?

DON'T MISS

The Artist Tree Set to Open Second Fresno Cannabis Location

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Is Fixing Accessibility to HR Building After Months of Complaints

DON'T MISS

Fresno Affordable Housing Takes a Huge Hit. State Kills City’s ‘Pro-Housing’ Status

DON'T MISS

Trump Admin Bars Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students

DON'T MISS

Clovis North Seniors Barred from Walking at Graduation After Caught with Alcohol

DON'T MISS

House Republicans Pass Trump’s Big Bill of Tax Breaks and Program Cuts After All-Night Session

UP NEXT

Stop Making Cents: US Mint Moves Forward With Plans to Kill the Penny

UP NEXT

Fresno County Detectives Revive 2017 Drive-By Murder Case

UP NEXT

Will the Pacific Coast Highway Reopen for Memorial Day Weekend?

UP NEXT

The Artist Tree Set to Open Second Fresno Cannabis Location

UP NEXT

Fresno Affordable Housing Takes a Huge Hit. State Kills City’s ‘Pro-Housing’ Status

UP NEXT

Trump Admin Bars Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students

UP NEXT

Clovis North Seniors Barred from Walking at Graduation After Caught with Alcohol

UP NEXT

House Republicans Pass Trump’s Big Bill of Tax Breaks and Program Cuts After All-Night Session

UP NEXT

Judge Blocks Trump Admin From Dismantling Education Department

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again

Will the Pacific Coast Highway Reopen for Memorial Day Weekend?

13 hours ago

The Artist Tree Set to Open Second Fresno Cannabis Location

13 hours ago

Fresno Unified Is Fixing Accessibility to HR Building After Months of Complaints

13 hours ago

Fresno Affordable Housing Takes a Huge Hit. State Kills City’s ‘Pro-Housing’ Status

14 hours ago

Trump Admin Bars Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students

15 hours ago

Clovis North Seniors Barred from Walking at Graduation After Caught with Alcohol

15 hours ago

House Republicans Pass Trump’s Big Bill of Tax Breaks and Program Cuts After All-Night Session

15 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump Admin From Dismantling Education Department

15 hours ago

Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again

16 hours ago

Meet Petunia. She Makes Hearts Melt With Every Purr

17 hours ago

Work Requirements Could Transform Medicaid and Food Aid Under US Budget Bill

The U.S. social safety net would be jolted if the budget bill backed by President Donald Trump and passed Thursday by the House of Represent...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

Work Requirements Could Transform Medicaid and Food Aid Under US Budget Bill

12 hours ago

Stop Making Cents: US Mint Moves Forward With Plans to Kill the Penny

Huron 2017 Cold Case Murder
12 hours ago

Fresno County Detectives Revive 2017 Drive-By Murder Case

13 hours ago

Will the Pacific Coast Highway Reopen for Memorial Day Weekend?

13 hours ago

The Artist Tree Set to Open Second Fresno Cannabis Location

13 hours ago

Fresno Unified Is Fixing Accessibility to HR Building After Months of Complaints

14 hours ago

Fresno Affordable Housing Takes a Huge Hit. State Kills City’s ‘Pro-Housing’ Status

15 hours ago

Trump Admin Bars Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend