The summer solstice occurs today, signaling the longest period of daylight for the Northern Hemisphere. This astronomical event marks the official beginning of summer, as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at the Tropic of Cancer.
During the solstice, the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined toward the sun, resulting in the maximum daylight hours of the year. The exact moment of the solstice varies by year and time zone, but it always falls between June 20 and June 22.
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, today offers the earliest sunrise and latest sunset. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the start of winter.
The solstice has been celebrated across cultures for millennia, with festivals and rituals marking the sun's peak and the subsequent gradual return of shorter days.