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Sunset on hold: Longest day of the year arrives with the summer solstice
Today marks the first day of summer — and the forecast finally includes sunshine and highs in the 70s, as if on cue.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, as the Northern Hemisphere leans most toward the sun during Earth’s tilted axis of rotation. The equator will see exactly 12 hours of daylight, with winter starting in the Southern Hemisphere.
Facts and figures about this year’s first day of summer:
Solstice
From Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still)
11:54 a.m.
Solstice officially arrives
15+ hours
Daylight in the Pittsburgh region will last approximately 15 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds
5 hours, 47 minutes
Amount of extra daylight compared to Dec. 21, 2019, this year’s winter solstice — or the shortest day of the year
Western Pa. sunsets
8:58 PM – Sharon
8:54 PM – Pittsburgh
8:53 PM – Tarentum
8:51 PM – Greensburg
8:50 PM – Ligonier
4 milliseconds, or less
Extra length of the longest day in recorded history — in 1912 — compared to recent averages, with the difference attributed to Earth’s slowing rotation.
Sources: Farmer’s Almanac, timeanddate.com, National Geographic
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