Summer officially begins this week with the arrival of the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 p.m. EDT, marking the astronomical start of the season in the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice is the longest day of the year in terms of sunlight, occurring when the Earth’s North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun — about 23.5 degrees — giving us more direct sunlight and shorter shadows at noon.
The word “solstice” comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), referring to the point in time when the sun’s path across the sky stops moving northward. After the solstice, the days begin to shorten again as the sun’s apparent path slowly shifts back south. This change is part of a beautiful figure-eight pattern known as an analemma, visible if you mark the Sun’s position at the same time each day over the course of a year.
While the solstice always happens around June 20 to 22, the exact timing depends on the Earth’s orbit and tilt. So whether you’re catching the sunrise, celebrating traditions, or simply enjoying the long evening light, the summer solstice is a moment to pause and welcome the warmth, growth, and activity the season brings.