On the 21st of June 2024, astronomers predict the longest day and shortest night of the year. This marks the start of summer in the northern hemisphere, as Earth’s tilt leans towards the Sun. From July 1 onwards, daylight will slowly decrease until September 22, when day and night will be almost equal.
As summer progresses, nights become longer and days shorter. By December 22, we experience the shortest day and longest night of the year.
This shift happens because Earth orbits the Sun, causing the Sun’s position relative to us to change. During the summer solstice, the Sun leans towards the southern pole, making it farthest from the northern hemisphere. This begins winter for us in the north.
Throughout this period, daylight hours diminish, a contrast to the increasing daylight we enjoyed during summer. In places like the northern hemisphere, sunrise times stay constant for about three days before gradually shifting earlier, while sunsets start to occur earlier as well.
Understanding these seasonal changes helps us appreciate the rhythms of nature and how Earth’s movements affect our daily lives.
