The moon rises behind Stonehenge on June 20, 2024 in Wiltshire, England. On the longest day of the yr within the northern hemisphere, the solar rises in excellent alignment with the Heel Stone and Altar Stone of Stonehenge’s 5,000-year-old circle. This alignment exhibits the traditional builders’ understanding of the photo voltaic calendar and means that Stonehenge could have served as a calendar or temple for vital dates and occasions, a convention that continues to be marked annually. | Picture credit score: Getty Photos
It is time for summer time to start, with a full moon as well.
This is what you need to know concerning the summer time solstice within the northern hemisphere on June 20.
What’s the summer time solstice?
The Earth rotates tilted because it revolves across the solar. The summer time solstice happens within the higher half of the Earth when the northern hemisphere is most tilted towards the solar. This additionally marks the longest day and shortest night time of the yr.
Across the identical time, the Southern Hemisphere is at its furthest level from the solar, coming into the winter solstice and the shortest day of the yr.
Six months later, the halves will change: the northern hemisphere will expertise a winter solstice and the southern hemisphere will expertise a summer time solstice.
What’s an equinox?
The equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn and happen when the Earth’s axis and orbit align in order that each hemispheres obtain the identical quantity of daylight.
The spring equinox on March 19 started spring and the autumn equinox on September 22 will mark the start of autumn.
What’s the strawberry moon?
This yr’s summer time solstice comes with a shock: the primary full moon of the summer time, known as the strawberry moon. The moon won’t be pink or crimson: its title comes from a number of indigenous tribes who seen that its date coincided with the strawberry harvest.
On Friday night time, look southeast for a glimpse of the total moon rising over the horizon.