Yesterday June 21, 2026 was this year’s summer solstice. The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, providing the maximum amount of sunlight and solar radiation. The Earth is tilted on its fixed axis by about 23.5 degrees. Because of this, different parts of the planet receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year as the Earth orbits the sun. While the solstice is generally referred to as a day, it’s actually an exact moment the sun reaches its northernmost point or alignment, directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. During the weeks following the solstice, the earth and concrete surfaces absorb more heat during the long daytime hours than they can release during the short nights. This gradual buildup means that the hottest temperatures of the year typically occur delayed, arriving over the next one to two months, in late July and August.
The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line of latitude circling the Earth at about 23.5° north of the equator. It spans three continents, passing through areas including Mexico, the Bahamas, the Sahara Desert, India and China.
Also notable is not only the length of the day, but also the height of the sun. During the summer solstice, sunlight hits the ground at a steeper, higher angle, which is part of the reason for the warmer temperatures associated with summer.
If Earth’s axis were not tilted, seasons would effectively cease to exist. There would be no summer or winter solstices, and every location on the planet would experience a nearly identical climate and constant 12-hour days year-round, permanently stuck in an “equinox” state.
It seems that over 20,000 people gathered and welcomed the Sun at Stonehenge on June 21st. According to English Heritage, they witnessed the summer solstice sunrise, marking the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day. It said that the clear weather provided a striking view as the sun rose at 4:24 a.m. BST over the Heel Stone.
