solstice | EarthSky

Fisheye view of sky with three bright parallel lines across it.

Personal solstices from the EarthSky community

Some people like to mark the solstice with a special sunset view, or marking of shadows, or party! Personal solstices from the EarthSky community, here.

Solstices and equinoxes in a video from space

See how sunlight falls on Earth's surface during the solstices and equinoxes, and get a better understanding of why Earth's tilt causes the seasons.

Tree in the foreground against a colorful sunrise.

Year’s shortest season to start at December solstice

The year's shortest season - between the December solstice and March equinox - is about 89 days. It's 5 days shorter than the longest season.

Two large black metal semicircles at right angles, points up, with Chicago skyline in distance.

Longest days accompany the December solstice

The longest days accompany the winter solstice. In December, a day - a whole cycle of day and night - is about half a minute longer than the average 24 hours.

Map of U.S. showing earliest sunset, latest sunrise by latitude.

The earliest sunset comes before the winter solstice

The solstice comes on December 21, 2024, at 9:21 UTC. Does that coincide with your earliest sunset? Probably not. It depends on where you live.

Sunset at the beach with dramatic colors and a toddler silhouette to the side.

Latest sunsets follow the summer solstice

Latest sunsets around now for 40 degrees north latitude. Latest sunrises around now for 40 degrees south latitude. Plus, a word about twilight.

Idyllic scene of sunrise over the ocean beyond a large palm tree, with boats in the distance.

Earliest sunrises (or sunsets) come before June solstice

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, your earliest sunrises of the year are happening around now. Southern Hemisphere? Your earliest sunsets are around now.

A view of Earth from orbit, with the sun in the distance.

Are the December solstice and January perihelion related?

December solstice 2023 comes on December 21-22. Earth will be closest to the sun just 2 weeks later, on January 2-3. Coincidence?

Two lounging chairs on the beach with an umbrella.

Why aren’t the hottest days on the solstice?

June solstice 2023. It's the longest day for us on northern Earth, but the hottest days for the Northern Hemisphere are still to come. Why is that?

Black-and-white diagram showing inner solar system of sun, Earth and Mars with arrows pointing to tilting poles.

Summer solstice on Mars’ northern hemisphere is today

The summer solstice on Mars' northern hemisphere occurs at 23:35 UTC today, July 12, 2023. At that time, the north pole is pointed most directly toward the sun.

Black sky with big crescent moon at right, small bright dot of Venus at bottom and even smaller Mars at left.

Cosmic trio on June solstice 2023. Best photos.

On the June solstice, look west to spot a crescent moon near brilliant Venus and the dimmer, reddish Mars. This cosmic trio is a treat in our solstice sky.

Three curved, dotted sun tracks across the sky from various heights above the horizon down to the horizon.

Northernmost sunset is on the June solstice, today!

The northernmost sunset (and sunrise) happens at the June solstice. Here's some quick info that'll help you connect with nature on this special day.

Large, bright yellow circle of sun in deep orange sky with jet plane crossing in front of it.

Longest sunsets happen around the solstice

We're talking about how many minutes it takes for the body of the sun to sink below your western horizon. Longest sunsets take place around the solstices.

Yellow phoenix with spread wings and flames around.

Summer solstice, cycles of nature and Chinese philosophy

In Chinese thought, the summer solstice is associated with the color red, the sound of laughing, the fire element and a red phoenix.

Solstice sunset: a large yellow orb with sun details and some tree silhouettes in the foreground.

Solstice sunset from Penang, Malaysia

What a beauty! This EarthSky community member used a telescope to capture the solstice sunset from Malaysia on June 21, 2021.

Summer solstice tale of 2 cities

On the June solstice, the sun will set at the same time in New York City and St. Augustine, Florida. But New York will have an hour more of daylight. Why?

Solstice sun at southernmost point

The December solstice happens at 10:02 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on December 21, 2020. That time - the moment of solstice - marks the sun's southernmost point for this year.

Solstice tale of two cities

December solstice sunrise comes at the same time for St. Augustine, Florida, and New York City. But St. Augustine has an hour more of daylight than New York. Here's why.

Celebrate solstice sunrise at Stonehenge live online

This year, solstice celebrations at Stonehenge monument are canceled due to Covid-19. But for the 1st time, you can celebrate the 1st sunrise of summer from Stonehenge online.

Solstice sunrise over Monterrey, Mexico

Raul Cortes in Monterrey, Mexico, caught the solstice sunrise in a sequence of images on December 22, 2019.

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Personal solstices from the EarthSky community

Solstices and equinoxes in a video from space

Year’s shortest season to start at December solstice

Longest days accompany the December solstice

The earliest sunset comes before the winter solstice

Latest sunsets follow the summer solstice

Earliest sunrises (or sunsets) come before June solstice

Are the December solstice and January perihelion related?

Why aren’t the hottest days on the solstice?

Summer solstice on Mars’ northern hemisphere is today

Cosmic trio on June solstice 2023. Best photos.

Northernmost sunset is on the June solstice, today!

Longest sunsets happen around the solstice

Summer solstice, cycles of nature and Chinese philosophy

Solstice sunset from Penang, Malaysia

Summer solstice tale of 2 cities

Solstice sun at southernmost point

Solstice tale of two cities

Celebrate solstice sunrise at Stonehenge live online

Solstice sunrise over Monterrey, Mexico