#3 Equinox – What is Solstice ?

A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs twice each year (in June and December) as the Sun reaches its highest or lowest excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. (Source: WIKIPEDIA)

Let’s modify that for simpler understanding and restate it as:

A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs twice each year (in June and December) as the Sun reaches its highest (Tropic of Cancer) or lowest (Tropic of Capricorn) excursion relative to the Earth’s equator.

In short, When the Day is longest (not longer) OR the Night is LONGEST (Not longer) is referred to as SOLSTICE.

So what does Summer Solstice Mean ?

It means:

1. Day is Longest.
2. Sun is exactly at the overhead or at the level of TROPIC OF CANCER.
3. It occurs approximately on JUNE 20-22. 
4. SUN is in Constellation of CANCER and hence the name TROPIC OF CANCER.

So what does Winter Solstice Mean ?

It means:

1. Night is Longest.
2. Sun is exactly at the overhead or at the level of TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.
3. It occurs approximately on DECEMBER 20-23. 
4. SUN is in Constellation of CAPRICORN (MAKAR) and hence the name TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.

In case after reading all this – if you have forgotten about Equinox. Take a look at Diagram Below. Its of the EQUINOX.

In  the next Blog we will club up both – EQUINOX and SOLSTICE and derive the months and seasons of the year.

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