June 21, 2025, marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing the longest day and shortest night of the year.
As summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, June 21, 2025, brings with it the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This event, known as the summer solstice, happens when the Earth is tilted closest to the Sun, making the Sun appear at its highest point in the sky over the Tropic of Cancer. The summer solstice will officially occur at 8:12 am IST on Saturday, June 21. On this day, most places in the Northern Hemisphere, including countries like India, the United States, and those across Europe, will enjoy the longest hours of daylight for the entire year. In fact, places near the North Pole will experience 24 hours of daylight, a period known as the midnight sun.
Why Is June 21 the Longest Day?
The exact date of the solstice can vary slightly each year because Earth’s orbit around the Sun takes around 365.25 days. That extra quarter day is why we have leap years every four years, to help keep the calendar in line with Earth’s movements. The main reason behind the solstice is Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt on its axis. This tilt causes different parts of the planet to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year, creating our seasons. On June 21, the Northern Hemisphere leans most directly toward the Sun, so the sunlight lasts longer and falls more directly, leading to the longe
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