SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) – Get ready for some of the latest sunsets and the longest day of the year as we prepare for the start of summer.
Friday marks the start of the summer solstice in the northern half of the globe, according to NASA and the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The summer solstice is significant because during this time, the sun will reach its northernmost point in the sky.
Due to the tilt of Earth’s axis, the sun usually does not rise and set in the same place on the horizon. However, during the solstice, the sun’s apparent path will not change for some time.
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Friday also marks the astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year for those living in places north of the equator.
By contrast, those living in the Southern Hemisphere refer to it as the astronomical start of the winter season. This is because below the equator, the sun appears to be at its lowest point in the sky.
Is Friday the official start of summer?
There is a difference between astronomical and meteorological summer.
Although Friday marks the start of astronomical summer for those in the Northern Hemisphere, meteorologists typically take into account the months and corresponding temperatures when dividing the year into four seasons.
The length of meteorological seasons is also more consistent and ranges between 90 to 92 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological summer consists of June, July and August.
The astronomical calendar is marked by the times when the sun goes over the equator. According to NOAA, since Earth’s orbit around the sun is elliptical, the lengths of the astronomical seasons vary between 89 and 93 days.
When will the sun set on Friday?
The sunset times and length of daylight vary depending on where you live.
The sun will rise in Los Angeles at 5:41 a.m. and set at 8:06 p.m., according to TimeAndDate.com, with the solstice at 7:42 p.m. PDT.
On the other side of the country in Tampa, Florida, the sun will rise at 6:33 a.m. and set at 8:28 p.m., with the summer solstice at 10:42 p.m. ET.
The next few days will be some of the “longest,” with most areas seeing more than 14 hours of daylight between sunrise and sunset. That will, however, start to change next week.
In Chicago, for example, the sun will rise at 5:16 a.m. on Friday and set at 8:29 p.m., NOAA’s Solar Calculator shows. A week later, sunrise will be at 5:18 a.m. while sunset will happen at 8:30 p.m. — so while the day may feel longer to you, because of the later sunset, you really “lost” two minutes of daylight in the morning.
In July, sunrises will happen later and sunsets will creep earlier, essentially “shortening” our days, so enjoy the sunshine while you can.
