Solstice
The moment at which the Sun stands furthest north or south of the celestial equator. In June the day is at its longest, in December at its shortest. In 2027 the summer solstice falls on 21 June at 16:11.
What is the solstice?
Over the course of a year the Sun rises in the sky and sinks again. In June it reaches its highest position above the celestial equator, in December its lowest below it, 23.44 degrees each time. At these moments it reverses its direction. They are called the solstice, from the Latin sol, sun, and sistere, to stand still: for a few days the Sun’s height at noon hardly seems to change.
In the northern hemisphere the solstice in June brings the longest day and the start of astronomical summer, the one in December the shortest day and the start of winter. In the southern hemisphere it is the other way round.
How long is the day?
In Berlin the Sun rises at 4:43 at the summer solstice 2027 and sets at 21:33, and the day lasts 16 hours and 50 minutes. At the winter solstice on 22 December 2027 it rises at 8:15 and sets at 15:54, and the day lasts 7 hours and 39 minutes. The further north, the greater the difference.
The earliest sunset in Berlin comes as early as the first half of December, at 15:52, the latest sunrise only around the turn of the year, at 8:17. The reason: noon by the sundial comes a little later each day in December.
In front of which constellation does the Sun stand?
At the summer solstice the Sun stands in front of the constellation Taurus, right at the edge of Gemini. At the winter solstice it stands in front of Sagittarius. In the zodiac signs of astrology, Cancer and Capricorn begin at these points, hence the names Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Through the precession of the Earth’s axis the turning points have since moved on by almost a constellation. More on this under zodiac.
Solstice, lunar turning point and St John’s Day
What the Sun does in a year, the Moon does in just over 27 days: it rises to a northern turning point and sinks to a southern one. This gives the ascending and descending Moon in the planting calendar, and the turning points are called lunar turning points.
In the biodynamic course of the year St John’s Day falls on 24 June, three days after the summer solstice. Shortly before St John’s Day field horsetail is gathered for preparation 508. More under biodynamic festival calendar.
In the Dyyna calendar the solstice is recorded as an event in the sky. For sowing and planting on this day, what the constellation, the Moon’s course and the Moon’s phase say applies; there is no rule of its own.
Dates up to 2030
| Year | Summer solstice | Winter solstice |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | 21 Dec, 21:50 CET |
| 2027 | 21 Jun, 16:11 CEST | 22 Dec, 3:43 CET |
| 2028 | 20 Jun, 22:02 CEST | 21 Dec, 9:20 CET |
| 2029 | 21 Jun, 3:48 CEST | 21 Dec, 15:14 CET |
| 2030 | 21 Jun, 9:31 CEST | 21 Dec, 21:09 CET |
Sources
- Solstice, Wikipedia
- Tropic of Cancer, Wikipedia
- Solstices and Equinoxes: 2001 to 2100, Fred Espenak, AstroPixels
Frequently asked questions about the solstice
When is the longest day in 2027?
The summer solstice falls on 21 June 2027 at 16:11 CEST. That makes 21 June the longest day of the year.
When is the shortest day in 2027?
The winter solstice falls on 22 December 2027 at 3:43 CET. 22 December is the shortest day.
Why does it stay warmest for weeks after the summer solstice?
Soil and seas need time to warm up and to cool down again. In Central Europe the warmest weeks therefore fall in July and August, the coldest in January and February.
What is the difference between the solstice and St John’s Day?
The solstice is a moment in the sky that falls on 20 or 21 June every year. St John’s Day is a feast day with a fixed date, 24 June.