The Longest Day

Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere

2025 Summer Solstice: 21 June

During the celestial annual journey of the Earth round the Sun, Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the moment when the Sun is at its furthermost point north of the Equator.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the 2025 Summer Solstice precise moment is at 02.42 GMT/UTC on 21st of June..

Summer Solstice Day is the longest day of the year, with the highest number of daylight hours and the shortest period of darkness.

It marks the start of the astronomical summer, as it is linked to the astronomical event of Sun being directly above the Tropic of Cancer.

Astronomical summer ends with the Autumn (Fall) Equinox.

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Solstice and Stonehenge

Anna Monks

The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin for midsummer, expressing the idea that the sun is stopped in its ascent of the sky.

The earth's tilt means that the sun's position varies by 46° during the yearly orbit. The northerly limit is known as the Tropic of Cancer and the southerly limit is the Tropic of Capricorn.

About 21st June (the date varies by one or two days each year), the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, providing the Northern Hemisphere with its longest day. In December the Southern Hemisphere enjoys its summer solstice when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.

There is strong evidence that celebration of the summer solstice goes back to the Neolithic period as so many monuments seem to align with the summer sunrise.

In England the great circle known as Stonehenge has an alignment of stones marking sunrise on the longest day. Sadly, we have no idea how the henge was actually used, but we can be sure that its builders were astronomers.

To find out more about Stonehenge go to site of English Heritage.

Human habitation reaches higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere. People cannot sleep during the midsummer nights when it does not get completely dark.

Many Scandinavian communities have feasts, folk music and dance. Some festivals are held on the solstice and others on the Feast of St John. In Britain St John's day is called Midsummer's day.

The association of magic with midsummer in English culture is exemplified by Shakespeare's delightful comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

In the play normality is turned upside-down and fairies interfere with human affairs. The woodland setting becomes an enchanted place with supernatural rulers.

Dates for equinoxes and solstices in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the same, but in opposite seasons. For example, the Summer Solstice north of the Equator is mirrored south of the Equator by the Winter Solstice.

Find below precise solstice and equinox dates and times for the Northern Hemisphere, from 2016 to 2024.

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2024

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2024 03:06 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 20 2024 20:51 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2024 12:43 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2024 09:20 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2023

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2023 21:24 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2023 14:57 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 23 2023 06:49 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 22 2023 03:27 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2022

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2022 15:33 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2022 09:13 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 23 2022 01:04 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2022 21:47 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2021

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2021 09:37 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2021 03:32 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2021 19:21 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2021 15:59 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2020

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2020 03:49 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 20 2020 21:43 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2020 13:30 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2020 10:02 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2019

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2019 21:58 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2019 15:54 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 23 2019 07:50 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 22 2019 04:19 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2018

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2018 16:15 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2018 10:07 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 23 2018 01:54 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2018 22:22 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2017

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2017 10:29 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 21 2017 04:24 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2017 20:02 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2017 16:28 GMT

Date & Time of Solstices & Equinoxes in 2016

Vernal Equinox (Spring) March 20 2016 04:30 GMT
Summer Solstice (Summer) June 20 2016 22:34 GMT
Autumnal Equinox (Fall) September 22 2016 14:21 GMT
Winter Solstice (Winter) December 21 2016 10:44 GMT