The June Solstice is here! It is the first day of Summer! The June Solstice either occurs on June 20, or June 21, depending on the year. This year it occurs on June 20, 2016. For us in the Northern Hemisphere it is our first day of summer. It is also our longest day of the year. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, it is their first day of winter, the shortest day of their year!
The Earth’s inclination towards the Sun will be at it’s highest for the Northern Hemisphere.
All that is North of the Tropic of Cancer will experience the longest period of daylight during the calendar year, and For the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite occurs, and it will be the shortest period of daylight.
In the United States there will be between 13-15 hours of sunlight. Alaska will have 22 hours of daylight.
Another exciting event will occur during the June Solstice that involves the Moon.
It is special that the Full Moon will fall on the Summer Solstice and
It also marks the fourth of four full moons between the March 2016 Equinox and the June Solstice.
Happy Solstice Full Moon! Usually there are only three full moons between the equinox and the solstice,or visa versa. It is more unusual for there to be four full moons in between an equinox or a solstice, or visa versa! The most recent Blue Moon occurred May 21st 2016, one month before the June Solstice.
The next full moon to occur on a June Solstice will be in the year 2062! The last June Solstice full Moon was in June 1967 (called the summer of love)
Some believe that the mysterious Stonehenge may have been erected as a place to celebrate the solstice, or a Sun Temple, because its placement allows a viewer in the center of the structure to capture the sun standing still, in it’s entirety through one of it’s gateways.
You are awesome!
We miss you already!
Happy Summer Solstice to You!!!!!!
xoxoxoxo
Sookie and Sylvie