The Summer Solstice will take place in Ireland on June 21, marking the official beginning of summer 2022.
The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight, while the winter solstice is the darkest day of the year with the shortest period of daylight.
The Met Office explains: “When it is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the areas north of the Arctic circle receive sunlight for a full 24 hours, while areas south of the Antarctic circle have a full day of total darkness. This situation is reversed at the winter solstice.”
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Here’s everything you need to know about the Summer Solstice, including when it is:
When is the Summer Solstice?
In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22.
This year, the Summer Solstice will begin on June 21 at 05:13.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight, while the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight.
“At the summer solstice, the Sun reaches its highest point of the year, while at the winter solstice, the noon Sun is the lowest it will be all year,” the Met Office says.
“During the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere of Earth is tilted towards the Sun, resulting in increased sunlight and warmer temperatures.
“This can also result in continuous daylight in far northern countries such as Iceland and Norway.”
How is the Summer Solstice celebrated?
People all over Ireland wake up early to catch a glimpse of the earliest sunrise of the year.
Meanwhile in the UK thousands of people normally gather at Stonehenge early in the morning for the annual celebration to mark the longest day of the year.
Celebrations in Mexico include the appearance of a feathered serpent shadow on Chichen Itza, while people in Sweden and Latvia host floral-themed events.
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