Difference Between Summer and Winter Solstice?

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Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are astronomical events that mark the longest and shortest days of the year. These occur due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun. The Summer Solstice brings the longest day and shortest night, while the Winter Solstice brings the shortest day and longest night in a given hemisphere.

These solstices are key seasonal milestones and play an important role in understanding the Earth-Sun relationship, the change in daylight hours, and the start of summer and winter seasons.

Aspect	Summer Solstice	Winter Solstice
Earth's Tilt	North Pole is tilted toward the Sun	North Pole is tilted away from the Sun
Date (Northern Hemisphere)	Around 21st June	Around 22nd December
Length of Day	Longest day of the year	Shortest day, longest night
Sunlight in Hemisphere	More sunlight in Northern Hemisphere	More sunlight in Southern Hemisphere
Sun's Direct Rays	Fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer	Fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn
Polar Regions Effect	Areas beyond the Arctic Circle get continuous daylight	Areas beyond the Antarctic Circle get continuous daylight
Seasonal Impact	Summer in Northern Hemisphere, Winter in Southern Hemisphere	Winter in Northern Hemisphere, Summer in Southern Hemisphere
Daylight Variations	Not always the earliest sunrise or latest sunset due to Earth’s elliptical orbit	The exact moment is brief, but the whole day is called the solstice
Sun’s Altitude	Appears highest in the sky (varies in tropics)	Appears lowest in the sky (depending on location)
Cultural Significance	Seen as the start or peak of summer	Seen as the start or peak of winter in many regions

Example of Summer Solstice

Imagine you're in Delhi in the month of June. On June 21st, the sun rises very early and sets very late—you get almost 14 hours of daylight! This is because the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, and sunlight directly hits the Tropic of Cancer. That day is called the Summer Solstice, or the longest day of the year.

Example of Winter Solstice

Now picture Delhi again in December. On December 22nd, it feels like the sun barely comes out. It gets dark by 5:30 PM, and you only get about 10 hours of daylight. That’s the Winter Solstice, when the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, and sunlight falls on the Tropic of Capricorn. It’s the shortest day of the year.

Real-World Perspective

In Norway, during the Summer Solstice, the sun doesn’t even set—it’s called the Midnight Sun. On the other hand, during the Winter Solstice, it can stay dark all day in some areas—this is known as the Polar Night.

Difference Between Summer and Winter Solstice?

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