Summer Solstice 2017: why is today the longest day of the year?

Summer officially started across the southern hemisphere today (21) at 1:28 pm. What makes this day so special is the Summer Solsticeastronomical phenomenon that marks the beginning of the hottest season of the year.

Every season is marked by astronomical phenomena, more precisely the solstices and equinoxes.

As we know, the Earth revolves around the Sun on an inclined axis, and therefore our little planet receives the sun’s rays differently every day. Summer solstice is when we get the most sunlight all year round.: it really is the longest day and shortest night of the year.

From now on, the days get shorter, continuously, until the autumnal equinox. On the day of the autumnal equinox, day and night are exactly the same length. From then on, the nights get longer, until the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. After that, the days gain strength and the nights diminish, until the spring equinox, with day and night being equal. And so the seasons change.

O Google decided to celebrate the date with a doodle very cute animation, in which a little mouse, who lives underground, is bathed in the sun through a hole in his burrow – and even has to put on sunglasses!

If all this history of astronomical phenomena isn’t interesting to you, just know that summer has begun and now it’s time to take your bikinis out of the drawer and enjoy lots of sun, beach, pool and heat. Come with us!