Longest day of the year, June 21

Longest day of the year, June 21  – Saturday was the longest day in the Northern hemisphere including Pakistan, called the summer solstice-the day when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer at noon. It was the longest day of the year when the earth witnessed most hours of sunlight and it occurred because the Earth’s axis tilted the most towards the sun at noon.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), The duration of day varies at number of places in the country, as the longest duration of day was 14 hours and 31 minutes in Peshawar. However, it was 14 hours & 29 minutes in Islamabad, 14 hours & 17 minutes in Lahore, 14 hours & 16 minutes in Quetta and 13 hours & 43 minutes in Karachi.

A solstice occurs twice a year, whenever the earth’s axis tilts the most toward or away from the sun, causing the sun to be farthest North or South at noon. During summer, days feel longer because the sun rises early in the morning and sets late at night.

When the North Pole of the earth is tilted toward the sun, those in the Northern Hemisphere receive more sunlight and it is summer. As the earth moves in its orbit, the tilt of the North Pole changes. When it is tilted away from the sun, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In between, We have Autumn and Spring.

The summer solstice, which occurred on Tuesday was the longest day (most daylight hours) of the year for people living in the Northern hemisphere. The day when the earth’s axis tilts the farthest away from the sun is called the winter solstice that occurs around December 20 to 21.

SOURCE: RECORDER REPORT