Summer solstice 2024
Summer has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the earliest start to the season in more than two centuries. The summer solstice, occurring precisely at 4:51 p.m. ET, signifies the moment when Earth's north pole is tilted closest to the sun, resulting in the longest day of sunlight for the year.
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| "Earliest Summer Solstice in Over a Century: A Historic Start to the Season" |
This year's solstice holds special significance, not having occurred this early since 1796, when it occurred on June 20 at 1:24 p.m. "Local Mean Time." At that time, George Washington was serving as the first president of the United States, and Tennessee had just been admitted as the 16th state.
The reason behind this early arrival of the solstice lies in the intricacies of the Gregorian calendar. While a typical year consists of 365 days, the actual time it takes for Earth to orbit the sun is approximately 365.24 days. To adjust for this discrepancy, a leap day is added to February every four years. However, even with this adjustment, solstices and equinoxes drift approximately 45 minutes earlier every four years. By the 2060s, solstices occurring on leap years will be earlier than any observed in the 1700s.
Looking ahead, the trend of earlier solstices will continue until 2096, when the earliest solstice of the century is predicted to occur at 2:32 a.m. ET on June 20. Interestingly, in 2100, despite being divisible by 100, it will not be a leap year due to specific exceptions in the Gregorian calendar rules.
While people traditionally celebrate the summer solstice with events like those at Stonehenge or by observing the Strawberry Moon's peak illumination, this year's early solstice serves as a reminder of the subtle ways in which our calendar and astronomical phenomena interact.
As summer unfolds, millions across the Northern Hemisphere will experience extended daylight hours, prompting activities ranging from outdoor gatherings to preparations for managing the season's heat. The early solstice of 2024, with its historical rarity, offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the precision of celestial mechanics and the changing seasons.