5 Things to Know About the Summer Solstice

Wednesday is the Summer Solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. In honor of that, and a little bit of extra sun today, we present five things to know about the Summer Solstice.

Information from almanac.com.

• Depends on Sun—The date of the Summer Solstice each year varies depending on when the sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. It usually occurs on June 20 or June 21.
• From the Latin—The word solstice comes from the Latin word "solstitium," which breaks down into "sol" for sun, and "stitium" for stop. It reflects the idea that the sun appears to stop on this day.
• More Sunlight—There is more sunlight on this day in the Northern Hemisphere than at any other time of the year. This is because the sun is directly overhead at its most northern point at high noon.
• Opposite in Winter—The opposite occurs during the Winter Solstice, when the sun is at its southernmost point, and is low in the sky, creating the shortest day of the year.
• Earth Takes Time to Warm—The day of the Summer Solstice is not the hottest day of the year because it takes time for the sun's rays to hit Earth, and warm us. There is lag time between sunlight being produced and it hitting Earth.