Articles About Solstice (18)

Earth's position in relation to the Sun's rays at the June solstice.

June Solstice 2026

The June solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere.

December Solstice

December solstice marks the shortest day north of the equator and the longest day in the south.

Sun peeking through trees with snow on the leaves and branches and snow on the ground.

December Solstice Customs

Learn more about the customs, traditions and events surrounding the December solstice.

An image of Stonehenge, the ancient stone circle monument in England, standing on a grassy plain under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.

June Solstice Traditions

In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the June solstice is associated with holidays, feasts and celebrations.

Summer: Dog lying on its back in the grass, enjoying the Sun.

When Does Summer Start?

Find out the exact moment of the summer solstice in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—down to the minute.

10 Facts about the December Solstice

Here are 10 things about the December solstice you might not know.

When Does Winter Start?

The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is in December; south of the equator, it is in June. Find out exactly when the winter season starts.

Illustration showing Earth's axis drawn as a red line.

Earth Is Tilted

When an object the size of Mars crashed into the newly formed planet Earth around 4.5 billion years ago, it knocked it over and left it tilted at an angle.

Vector illustration of thick book and a pencil

Astronomical Glossary - Terms & Definitions

What do astronomers really mean when they use those technical terms?

Parents playing with their young daughter in the evening sun

10 Facts about the June Solstice

10 things you may not know about the June solstice.

Diagram showing the distance between the Sun and Earth at different times of the year (perihelion and aphelion).

Earth's Perihelion

Earth's closest approach to the Sun is two weeks after the December solstice is a coincidence and has no special significance.

A tree changing through the four seasons.

What Causes Seasons on Earth?

Seasons change because Earth's rotational axis tilts away or towards the Sun during the course of a year.

Illustration of night sky with stars and a crescent moon.

Astro Events 2026

When, where, and how to see things happening in the sky and space.

Image of a Full Moon rising over the Swiss Alps.

December: Cold Moon

The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, the Moon before Yule, Oak Moon, and Wolf Moon.

A big yellow Full Moon setting behind snowy Alaska Range mountains near Denali with pine trees in the foreground.

January: Wolf Moon

January’s Full Moon is named after howling wolves. In some cultures, it's known as the Quiet Moon, Severe Moon, and the Moon after Yule.

99% of Earthlings See Sunlight on July 8 (And on Other Dates, Too)

Our Sun data confirm an internet meme claiming 99% of the world’s population gets sunlight at 11:15 UTC on July 8. But does it happen on other dates, too?

99% Of Us See Daylight at This Moment (Or Do We?)

Is it really true that 99% of the world's population see daylight at 11:15 UTC on July 8?

World map showing day, night, and twilight at 19:56 UTC on December 6.

Dec 6: Minute of Global Darkness

There's a moment each year when almost 9 in 10 people worldwide experience night.