The Summer Solstice
The summer solstice occurs in 2012 on Wednesday, June 20, at 4:09pm PDT (23:09 UT) when the Sun enters Cancer. You know it's summer because the Sun reaches its farthest point north for the year. It is at its highest in the sky at local noon and the solstice shadows are very short. Click Shadows Vanish in India to see how latitude affects these shadows (scroll half way down the link).
The higher the Sun rises in the heavens the more distance it has to travel from one horizon to the other and hence, the longer daylight. This is the longest day of the year, or so they say! Hmmm ... In 2012, in San Francisco there are 5 longest days each with 14 hours and 47 minutes. How many are there in your area? Check it out for yourself ... Sun Data /One Year Table
Why are there 5 longest days?!?! This occurs because the declination of the Sun changes or varies only slightly during the solstices. The analemma, an unsymmetrical figure-8 shape of the Sun’s daily position at the same time, illustrates this concept with its flattening at both ends.
The length of daylight (as measured in minutes) is pretty much the same for several days or more, both at the summer and also the winter solstice. If you were to do the calculations down to the exact second of time, then the shortest amount of daylight would coincide with the time of the solstice. Thank-you James Davis and Joe Rao / SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist for these valued insights.
The
Sun's Seasonal Path
Image: TheSky Astronomy Software
The Sun's path is shown after sunrise during the solstices and equinoxes. When the solstice Sun appears farthest north, it marks the beginning of summer. After the summer solstice the Sun begins its journey southward and the days start getting shorter.
High Sun ~ Low Moon
When the solstice Sun swings high, the Moon around the Solstice swings low to the south. Compare the summer solstice paths of the Sun and Moon.
In 2005 and 2006 we had two extreme low "solstice" Moons at declinations of –27º to –28°+. These extreme southern positions were due to the lunar standstill season that occurs every 18.6–19 years. See Moon Swings ~ Highs and Lows to learn more.
In Britain this is traditionally known as "midsummer." In the Southern Hemisphere the Sun is at its lowest, casting long shadows and it is the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. This is the darkest day of the year for the South Pole, which has already had three months without the Sun and expects three more! This is the brightest day at the North Pole with the Sun at its highest all day long! This land of the "Midnight Sun" is in full sunlight (except for clouds) during the entire summer and this solstice marks high noon in its 6-month day! These different seasons are the result of Earth's tilt, together with its orbit around the Sun.
Here are a few more solstice goodies from Bob Berman at Astronomy Magazine.
The word solstice comes from the two Latin words "sun" and "stoppage." Makes sense: The Sun stops moving north that day.
The June solstice Sun hovers straight over the Tropic of Cancer, just south of Key West, Florida.
The summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest point of the year, but it's getting less high over time. That's because Earth's tilt is decreasing.
The solstice is when the Sun is lowest in the sky for those at the equator.
In India, the summer solstice marks the end of a 6-month period when spiritual growth is supposedly easiest. Too bad, you blew it.
On the summer solstice, the Sun rises farthest left on the horizon and sets at its rightmost possible spot. Sunlight strikes places in rooms that get illuminated at no other time.
In ancient Greece, the solstitial Sun happened in Cancer [the constellation]. But it moved into Gemini around the time of Christ. In 1989, it shifted into Taurus, where it will remain until the fifth millennium
Thanks Bob and Astronomy Magazine!
Day
Star Day!
A Celebration of the Summer Solstice and the Star We Call Our Sun
Image: The Sky Astronomy Software
Participate in This Unique Celebration!
Every year near the summer solstice, Jack Horkheimer, Star Gazer, would ask everyone to celebrate the rising of our local day star, the Sun. He did this because most people never truly experience a sunrise. He would encourage us to get up before twilight began, to observe the effects of sunrise on everything all around us. In honor of Jack who died August 20, 2010 I continue to promote this unique celebration.
Create your own official Day Star Day. Celebrate the summer solstice and the rising of the Sun!
Get
up about
15 minutes before sunrise,
while it's still dark outside.
It's not the Sun itself that you are going to observe but the effects of sunrise on everything around you as night slowly turns into day. It is better to be outside but if not just sit by an open window.
Now for the rules, which are absolutely essential: no radio, no television, no doing your normal wake up routine. All distractions must be eliminated. Simply sit quietly inside or outside and when you see the skies slowly start to brighten, look, listen and feel what happens all around you. Watch the delicate interplay of light, color and shadow. Listen to the different sounds of our world and its creatures waking up. Feel the wind change, the temperature change, and much, much more as night slowly slips into day.
Keep track of all the subtle changes you notice and record your observations on paper or into a tape recorder. And then read or listen to your observations a few days later ... if you've never done this before, you're in for a pleasant surprise ... experiencing the effects of a sunrise using all of your senses and your full attention is one of the most wonderful experiences this planet has to offer ... you'll be amazed at what a star rise over a small planet can do for you. Star Gazer
Watch Jack's final 5-minute video regarding this celebration.
Click here to learn more about Jack Horkheimer and the current status of his weekly show.
The spiritual significance of the Summer Solstice
Global
Solstice Meditation
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Exact: 4:09pm PDT (23:09 UT)
Join
the eleventh step in a series of 12 globally
synchronized meditations by EarthRainbowNetwork.
These celebrate the last 12 solstices and
equinoxes before December 21, 2012.
They help stir the remembrance of Who We Are.
"Remembrance Key" meditation is provided
for the exact moment of the Solstice.
"I Am Bliss"
(If you miss the exact moment,
“stir the remembrance" anytime!)
Global
Solar Wave Celebration
June
Solstice
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sunrise or Anytime Out Under the Sun
Global
Solar Wave Celebration calls all light workers
and way-showers to SHINE ~ SERVE ~ SHARE with
the WORLD! Join together in an awakening,
unstoppable Solar Wave of joyful celebration
and heart Centered Community Service.
Gather for a sunrise ceremony or plan
a gathering out under the Sun.
Network this event in your area.
Solar Meditations are included.
Global
Sunrise Times
Global
Solstice Sunrise / Sunset Meditation
June Solstice
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Participants
in this World Unity Celebration
TuneIn and SoulConnect 10 minutes before
the sunset or sunrise till 10 minutes after.
One opens the heart to the flow of Universal
Unconditional Love to heal oneself,
all of humanity and the planet.
Global
Solstice Meditation
For the Oceans and the Cetaceans
June Solstice
Anytime
This
is a beautiful meditation that
includes stunning pictures,
inspirational words and
18 minutes of wonderful music.
Anyone who participates will be
sending as well as receiving a healing!
Marine
Animal Meditation Music by Kauwila
Worldwide
Didgeridoo Meditation
June
Solstice at Sunset
June 21/20
This
wave meditation starts June 21 in
New Zealand and ends in South America June 20.
It
is a worldwide link-up of people
supporting environmental and personal awareness.
It is held on the equinoxes and solstices.
Starting at sunset participants are asked to play or
listen to meditative music (preferably didgeridoos)
for 45 minutes and then to sit silently for 15 minutes.
Participants
Worldwide
Solstice
Candle Night 2012
June Solstice Evening
8:00pm-10:00pm Your Time
A “Candle
Night” can increase one's ability to
be still and know, therefore it is included
in this list of global meditations.
Spend an evening by candle light and
take a break from the everyday
hectic pace of life. Turn off lights;
light a candle; make Divine contact.
This biannual solstice event held since
2003, was originally initiated by
several of Japan's environmental non-
governmental organizations. Candle Night
is spreading from Japan to the world.
Lots of ideas about how to enjoy this evening
are included on the Candle Night website.
Solstice
Earth Summit Invocation Vigil
Thursday, June 21 2012
Participate at your convenience.
Be
part of a global Vigil invoking Light, Love and
Purpose on the Solstice
in support of the
Rio + 20 Earth Summit. At specific times
of your
choosing during the 24 hours of June 21 (GMT)
use the Great
Invocation [*],
or an Invocation of your choice.
Cycle of Conferences
Gives background on the Earth and
People's Summits. Includes Visualization
and Thoughts for Pondering.
Jerusalem
Hug
June Solstice
Thursday, June 21, 2012
16:00-20:00 Israel Daylight Time
6am-10am Pacific Daylight Time (13:00-17:00 UT)
Many
hundreds of people will embrace the Old City
of Jerusalem. Israelis, Palestinians and peace
activists from around the world will walk
hand in hand around the city walls.
"
If you can't be there in your body you can
be there with us in your heart and mind."
Offer your personal blessings of love
to the Holy City, the Heart of the World,
with the awareness of our Human Unity.
The first Big Hug occurred May 21, 2007.
Also see Pyramid
of Light.
World
Peace and Prayer Day
Summer Solstice
Thursday, June 21, 2012
This
is an annual gathering of all nations and all faiths
joining hearts in prayer for world peace and global
healing. You are invited to gather at sacred sites
globally, and make a great circle of prayer for
world peace and the healing of Mother Earth.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, spiritual leader of the
Lakota people and the 19th generation keeper of the
Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, received the vision
for this day and performs ceremony each year
with the indigenous people of North Amercia.
Ceremony
Suggestions
People who practice non-traditional spirituality,
can use these suggestions during the ceremony.
Grand Teton
National Park, Wyoming
In 2012 gather to hear the wisdom and
peace teachings of healers and elders of traditions.
4:00pm
Mountain Daylight Time
(22:00 UT / 3:00pm PDT)
Current and Ongoing Global Meditations
I'd
like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and
if you'd like reminders to Look Up! ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun
Getting
Started in Astronomy
Includes a downloadable Moon map and bimonthly star charts.
At Skymaps.com download a current monthly guide, evening sky map & calendar.
Link to Sky and Telescope's This Week's Sky at a Glance.
Spaceweather.com keeps you looking up!
Online
Schools
A space and science study guide for kids
Astronomy
Resources
Valuable links for stargazing, meteorology, education and job resources
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