Summer is just around the corner, so here are a few things to know about the upcoming Summer Solstice.
1. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice can occur anywhere between June 20 and June 22. The 2016 Summer Solstice officially arrives Monday, June 20th, at 6:34 PM EDT.
2. The Summer Solstice happens when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun, directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
3. The term 'solstice' is derived from the Latin word 'solstitium' - meaning 'sun standing still'.
4. On Monday, the sun will rise at 5:40 AM and set at 8:36 PM, giving us 14 hours, 56 minutes & 22 seconds of daylight in Baltimore.
5. One might think that since it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is closest to the Sun during the June Solstice. But it's the opposite - the Earth is actually farthest from the Sun during this time of the year. In fact, the Earth will be on its aphelion a few weeks after the June Solstice.
