Summer Solstice falls on June 21

Summer Solstice or the longest daytime was observed in the Philippines that began at 12:38 AM of June 21 according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice, once in summer and once in winter, each year when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the North or South Pole. During Solstices, the tilt of the Earth’s axis (with respect to the sun) is the maximum at 23° 26'. The word “solstice” was derived from the Latin words sol, which means “sun,” and sistere meaning to “stand still.” Therefore, solstice literally means “the sun stands still.”

Philippine nights will be at their shortest and day times at their longest — as the summer solstice falls on June 21. Daytime would last up to approximately 13 hours and 21 minutes in the northernmost part of the country like in Basco, Batanes.

According to Engr. Dario dela Cruz, Chief of the Space Sciences and Astronomy Section of PAGASA, Summer Solstice in the Philippines will begin at 12:38 AM (Philippine Standard Time). “During the Summer Solstice, the sun attains its greatest declination of +23.5 degrees and passes directly overhead at noon at a latitude of 23.5 degrees north, which is known as the Tropic of Cancer. This event marks the start of the apparent southward movement of the Sun in the ecliptic,” dela Cruz added. Each year, solstices mostly occur on the 20th or 21st of June and 21st or 22nd of December. During summer, the day of the solstice is the longest day of the year while the shortest day of the year is during Winter Solstice.