Longest Day - Shortest Day

I have always been fascinated by the seasons which are a result of the tilt of the Earth and its rotation around the Sun.

Today is the longest 'day' in northern hemisphere and the shortest 'day' in the southern hemisphere. Of course the day is still 24 hours, but there are the greatest and least number of daylight hours respectively on this date. Simultaneously, there are the least and the greatest number of darkness! They are known as the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice, and are reversed on December 21st each year.


On the Equator there are always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness and that number begins to increase or decrease the further away from the Equator you go. So, at the imaginary line of latitude called the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north of the Equator), tonight there will be 24 hours of daylight, and at the same time there will be 24 hours of darkness at the Antarctic Circle (66.5 degrees south of the Equator). However, the Poles have been either in total light or total darkness for the past six weeks and will not see any darkness/daylight until into August.


In England, the Summer Solstice is always a news feature, due to the fascinating structure known as Stonehenge; a circle of huge stones erected several thousand years ago and believed to be a place of ancient Pagan worship connected with the 'Sun' god. The Sun will rise at just before 5am and set just before 21.30, giving more than 16 hours of daylight. However, summer temperatures are currently quite low, due to recent heavy rainfall.


Here in Cape Town, although today is the Winter Solstice, the temperatures are a balmy 26 degrees with clear blue skies. The sun rose at 7.50 this morning and will set at 17.45, giving just under 10 hours of daylight. The nights, however, are very cold especially with no cloud cover, but it rarely reaches freezing point and only then on high ground. I have been told that on the occasions when there has been snow on Table Mountain, people rush to the top to experience this rare phenomenon.


This sunset photo was taken last month, when my mum came to visit us. I think it was colder that day than it is today.