Photo courtesy of Jordan Hays.
Although it might already feel warm enough to be summer, the official start of the season won’t be until a very specific day in the astronomical calendar known as the summer solstice. According to the astronomical definition of the seasons, per the Encyclopedia Britannica, the summer solstice marks the beginning of summer, which will last until the autumnal equinox — Sept. 22 or 23 — here in the Northern Hemisphere.
This year, the once-a-year event will fall on Monday, June 20, here in Homewood.
Lynn Hardin, science teacher at Homewood High School, said the event marks the time the sun is the farthest north in our sky it will be for that year. During the summer solstice, the sun will travel its longest path through the sky, said Hardin, giving us earthlings in the Northern Hemisphere the longest amount of daylight for the year.
The event, marked by astronomers and meteorologists, probably isn’t readily noticeable to the average person, said Hardin.
“They might notice that they are able to stay outside and watch a softball game with more daylight hours,” she said, “but otherwise, the day comes and goes like most others.”
The reason we don’t tend to notice anymore, said Hardin, is because the days have been getting progressively longer since the summer solstice’s opposite — the winter solstice. During the winter solstice, we experience the shortest amount of daylight hours.
“We also spend a lot of time inside,” she said, “unlike our ancestors, who had to rely on astronomical events for lots of things, like for marking planting and harvest seasons.”
The importance of astronomical events to ancient people, said Hardin, is evident in the remains of their ruins, many of which were astronomical observatories.
The amount of daylight we receive throughout the year, Hardin explained, is due to the Earth’s tilt toward the sun as the year progresses.
“The sun’s rays hit the Earth at different angles throughout the year,” said Hardin. “The earth is either pointed more toward or away from the sun. When it gets to the summer solstice, our Earth is pointed toward the sun.”
Citing the Naval Observatory’s calculations, Hardin said this year’s summer solstice will happen at exactly 5:34 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 20 here in the Birmingham area. That moment in time, she explained, is when the sun will be at its farthest point north in our sky. On that day, the Birmingham area will experience 13 hours and 50 minutes of sunlight, she said.
Across the globe, people living in the same latitude as Homewood, will experience the same event at 5:34 p.m. local time.
“Another city at the same latitude would experience the same number of daylight hours,” said Hardin. “It’s a unique connection with say, the people in parts of Europe that we experience for a day.”
As soon as the clock strikes 5:35 p.m. June 20, the Earth will begin its tilt away from the sun, said Hardin, leading to progressively shorter days.
“Solstice means ‘sun standing still,”’ she said. “Check your clocks that day. It’s something to pay attention to.”
So what’s there to do with nearly two extra hours of sunlight? Enjoy the rays at one of these outdoor-friendly Homewood locations.
Take a dip:
► Homewood Central Pool at Homewood Community Center, open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday 1–6 p.m.
► West Homewood Pool at West Homewood Park, open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Play at the park:
► Central Park: 1632 Oxmoor Road
► Patriot Park: 710 Oak Grove Road
► Overton Park: 1920 Mayfair Drive
► Spring Park: 2525 Central Avenue
► West Homewood Park: 121 West Oxmoor Road
► Woodland Park: 429 Woodland Drive
Get something cold:
► Edgewood Creamery: 936 Oxmoor Road
► Steel City Pops: 2821 Central Ave. #109
► TCBY: 1919 28th Ave. S., Suite 153