Yesterday was the longest day of the year and now the days will gradually start getting shorter again. So enjoy all those light, late evenings while you can. They go by too quickly. Facts about solstice:
Solstice, from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).
At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator, about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, around June 20 or 21, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer.
In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to dayThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition Copyright © 1993, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Inso Corporation. All rights reserved.
4 comments:
I can't say I'll be sad to see the long days go...it's really hard to put a fussy 2-year old down for bed at night when it's still bright as day out there! We got some light-blocking curtains for the bedroom and they work pretty well though.
Unfortunately, it rained on and off all day yesterday, so we on Long Island didn't even get to take advantage of the extended daylight. Plus, I was hoping to go hiking yesterday morning but had to call if off because of all the damned rain!
Imagine how it is living in Alaska and Scandinavia and other places where it stays light nearly all summer and they have to get room darkening drapes and shades just to make it so they can sleep at night.
It was a partly cloudy day here yesterday, but those high kind of clouds. Pretty to look at. Today is sunny and HOT...very humid.
It's like that here today here in Ft. Worth Texas. My mom said it reached 104 today! Very hot and humid.
I know what you mean about those high kind of clouds. They are pretty to look at. I can't stand the heat though. I like cold weather myself. Not too cold though.
Anyway, I enjoyed your post. Thanks for the info!
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