Solstices

sol'stis-es (sun standing), the stationary points in the sun's northern and southern courses. In spring, as the days increase in length, the sun seems to pass higher in the heavens each day. The day on which the summer sun reaches its highest midday point is the summer solstice. It occurs on or about the 21st of June and is the longest day of the year. For the following six months the midday point of the sun is farther and farther down the sky. The day on which the sun hangs lowest at midday in the northern hemisphere, or midwinter, is the day on which the midday position of the sun is highest in the southern hemisphere; that is to say, our winter solstice is the summer solstice south of the equator. See Seasons