AccuWeather.com

Summer Solstice

Jun 17, 2011; 9:23 AM ET

The first "official" day of summer occurs early next week, at 1:16 p.m. EDT, on Tuesday, June 21 to be exact. This is the time of the summer solstice (or more accurately known as the June solstice), when the Earth's tilt on its axis is at its maximum, 23 degrees and 26 minutes.

Thus, at this time, the direct rays of the sun are at the farthest point north, the Tropic of Cancer. Also on this day, the northern hemisphere experiences its most sunlight of any day of the year, ranging from 24 hours anywhere north of the Arctic Circle to a never-changing 12 hours at the equator. Major cities in the Lower 48 will have as much as 15 hours, 36 minutes and 54 seconds in Minneapolis and as few as 13 hours, 45 minutes and 4 seconds in Miami.

Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, this day is the first official day of winter. There will be no sun at all anywhere south of the Antarctic Circle as the Earth's tilt on its axis causes Antarctica to be pointing away from the sun.

Enjoy the length the day, as at 1:17 p.m. EDT Tuesday, the sun begins to make its apparent southward trek across the sky for the next six months (until the winter, or December, solstice). The time the sun is out will drop to 13 hours, 45 minutes and 3 seconds in Miami on June 22nd and 15 hours 36 minutes and 52 seconds in Minneapolis.

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