The Summer Solstice
In 2019 the summer solstice is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere on Friday, June 21. It is exact when the Sun enters Cancer on Thursday, June 21, at 8:54am PDT (15:54 UT).
You know it's summer because the Sun reaches its farthest point north for the year. It is at its highest in the sky at local noon and the solstice shadows are very short. Click Shadows Vanish in India to see how latitude affects these shadows (scroll half way down the link).
Why are there 5 longest days?!?!
The higher the Sun rises in the heavens the more distance it has to travel from one horizon to the other and hence, the longer daylight. This is the longest day of the year, or so they say! Hmmm ... In 2019, in San Francisco there are 5 longest days each with 14 hours and 47 minutes. How many are there in your area? Check it out for yourself ... Sun Data /One Year Table
Why are there 5 longest days?!?! This occurs because the declination of the Sun changes or varies only slightly during the solstices. The analemma, an unsymmetrical figure-8 shape of the Sun’s daily position at the same time, illustrates this concept with its flattening at both ends.
The length of daylight (as measured in minutes) is pretty much the same for several days or more, both at the summer and also the winter solstice. If you were to do the calculations down to the exact second of time, then the longest amount of daylight would coincide with the time of the summer solstice. Thank-you James Davis and Joe Rao / SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist for these valued insights.
If you're curious about analemmas, click the following links!
Why Our Analemma Looks like a Figure 8
Interesting
and Complex
Analemmas on Other Planets
Scroll to bottom of the page.
The
Sun's Seasonal Path
Image: TheSky Astronomy Software
The Sun's path is shown after sunrise during the solstices and equinoxes. When the solstice Sun appears farthest north, it marks the beginning of summer. After the summer solstice the Sun begins its journey southward and the days start getting shorter.
High Sun ~ Low Moon
When the solstice Sun swings high, the Moon around the solstice swings low to the south. Compare the summer solstice paths of the Sun and Moon.
In 2005 and 2006 we had two extreme low "solstice" Moons at declinations of –27º to –28°+. These extreme southern positions were due to the lunar standstill season that occurs every 18.6–19 years. See Moon Swings ~ Highs and Lows to learn more.
In Britain this is traditionally known as "midsummer." In the Southern Hemisphere the Sun is at its lowest, casting long shadows and it is the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. This is the darkest day of the year for the South Pole, which has already had three months without the Sun and expects three more! This is the brightest day at the North Pole with the Sun at its highest all day long! This land of the "Midnight Sun" is in full sunlight (except for clouds) during the entire summer and this solstice marks high noon in its 6-month day! These different seasons are the result of Earth's tilt, together with its orbit around the Sun.
Here are a few more solstice goodies from Bob Berman at Astronomy Magazine.
The word solstice comes from the two Latin words "sun" and "stoppage." Makes sense: The Sun stops moving north that day.
The June solstice Sun hovers straight over the Tropic of Cancer, just south of Key West, Florida.
The summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest point of the year, but it's getting less high over time. That's because Earth's tilt is decreasing.
The solstice is when the Sun is lowest in the sky for those at the equator.
In India, the summer solstice marks the end of a 6-month period when spiritual growth is supposedly easiest. Too bad, you blew it.
On the summer solstice, the Sun rises farthest left on the horizon and sets at its rightmost possible spot. Sunlight strikes places in rooms that get illuminated at no other time.
In ancient Greece, the solstitial Sun happened in Cancer [the constellation]. But it moved into Gemini around the time of Christ. In 1989, it shifted into Taurus, where it will remain until the fifth millennium
Thanks Bob and Astronomy Magazine!
Day
Star Day!
A Celebration of the Summer Solstice and the Star We Call Our Sun
Image: The Sky Astronomy Software
Participate in This Unique Celebration!
Every year near the summer solstice, Jack Horkheimer, Star Gazer, would ask everyone to celebrate the rising of our local day star, the Sun. He did this because most people never truly experience a sunrise. He would encourage us to get up before twilight began, to observe the effects of sunrise on everything all around us. In honor of Jack who died August 20, 2010 I continue to promote this unique celebration.
Create your own official Day Star Day. Celebrate the summer solstice and the rising of the Sun!
Get
up about
15 minutes before sunrise,
while it's still dark outside.
It's not the Sun itself that you are going to observe but the effects of sunrise on everything around you as night slowly turns into day. It is better to be outside but if not just sit by an open window.
Now for the rules, which are absolutely essential: no radio, no television, no doing your normal wake up routine. All distractions must be eliminated. Simply sit quietly inside or outside and when you see the skies slowly start to brighten, look, listen and feel what happens all around you. Watch the delicate interplay of light, color and shadow. Listen to the different sounds of our world and its creatures waking up. Feel the wind change, the temperature change, and much, much more as night slowly slips into day.
Keep track of all the subtle changes you notice and record your observations on paper or into a tape recorder. And then read or listen to your observations a few days later ... if you've never done this before, you're in for a pleasant surprise ... experiencing the effects of a sunrise using all of your senses and your full attention is one of the most wonderful experiences this planet has to offer ... you'll be amazed at what a star rise over a small planet can do for you. Star Gazer
Watch Jack's final 5-minute video regarding this celebration.
Click here to learn more about Jack Horkheimer and the current status of his weekly show. Also watch Happy Birthday Jack and Star Gazers online.
The spiritual significance of the Summer Solstice
There are a variety of solstice global meditations occurring at various times during the day. Participate in one or more of these meditations to strengthen the Light Grid of planet Earth. Those living in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are participating in June's solstice meditations.
2019 Solstice Exact: June 21, Friday, 8:54am PDT (15:54 UT)
June
2019 Global Solstice Meditation
Begins
24 mins. before the exact solstice.
exact solstice time listed above
OR ...
Choose a time that suits you.
A
30-min.
recording includes a 13-min.
guided meditation and several inspiring
musical tracks. It is designed to be used
for the 2018 winter solstice and anytime
during the new 2019 spiritual cycle. The
cornerstone of our global spiritual work
at this time is knowing who we are
and why we are here. You may want
to note down any strong images or
feelings, or elements of new spiritual
understanding that you may have
experienced during the meditation,
so that you may refer to them later
to integrate them into your daily life.
A New Earth is slowly emerging from
the depths of our immortal Self as we
reconnect with the Source of All in us.
Thank you for sharing this invitation.
*
* *
Additional Link of Interest
June Solstice
with Patricia Cota-Robles
"A Powerful Acceleration of Our Bodies"
Tune to the link's replay page June 21.
Global
Solstice Meditation
For the Oceans and the Cetaceans
Solstice June 21, Thursday, 2018
Anytime
I
continue to include this archived online
meditation, because it is truly healing.
It includes stunning pictures,
inspirational words and
18 minutes of wonderful music.
Anyone who participates will be
sending as well as receiving a blessing!
Marine
Animal Meditation Music by Kauwila
Worldwide
Didgeridoo Meditation
June Solstice ~ Sunset Your Time
This
a worldwide link-up of people supporting
environmental and personal awareness.
It is held on the equinoxes and solstices.
Starting at sunset participants are asked to
play or listen to meditative music
(preferably didgeridoos) for 45 minutes
and then sit silently for 15 minutes.
This wave meditation starts in New Zealand,
is followed by Australia, Asia, Arab countries,
Israel, Africa, Europe, with America,
Canada, Middle and South America
completing the world wide circle.
Participants
Worldwide
Global Sunrise
/ Sunset Times
World
Peace and Prayer Day
June 21, Friday, 2019
This
is an annual solstice gathering of all nations and
all faiths joining hearts in prayer for world peace and
global healing. You are invited to gather at sacred
sites globally, and make a great circle of prayer
for world peace and the healing of Mother Earth.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, spiritual leader of the
Lakota people and the 19th generation keeper
of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, received
the vision for this day and performs ceremony each
year with the indigenous people of North Amercia.
Ceremony
Suggestions
People who practice non-traditional spirituality,
can use these suggestions during the ceremony.
Yoga
of Healing and Awakening Summit
June 21-24,
Friday-Monday, 2019
World
Yoga Day is annually
commemorated June 21st. 2019
offers us a free online event for
our own personal 4-day retreat.
Participate in the summit and
journey to the birthplace of yoga;
hear 50+ world renowned speakers;
experience the 8+ hours of video
broadcast with 40+ top luminaries;
practice yoga and meditation. Take
this time to join others globally in
uniting with our spiritual nature.
*
* *
Additional Links of Interest
International
Day of Yoga
June 21, 2019 Theme: Climate Action
Terry
Gross Interviews Michelle Goldberg
Author of The Goddess Pose: The Audacious
Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who
Helped Bring Yoga to the West.
Transcript
of Interview
Current and Ongoing Global Meditations
I'd
like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun
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