Was Stonehenge a temple, a parliament, a graveyard or was it a healing ground? Questions aside, Stonehenge is the best place to witness the summer solstice. The word, solstice, comes from the Latin words sol, meaning Sun and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the day of the June solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost position. Now the sun is swinging the other way. The long summer days have shifted and will shorten.

Things to know:

  • Summer solstice is the 2nd solstice following spring solstice in March
  • Sun seems to stand still
  • Occurs every June, when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. In 2018, this will happen on June 21 at 11:07 UTC.
  • Can be June 21, 22 or 23
  • First day of summer
  • Earth furthest from the sun
  • Not the earliest sunrise – that happens days earlier
  • Not the hottest day of the year
  • The Arctic has 24 hours of sunlight
  • This day is celebrated around the world

“Linda has published fifteen books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”