Happy Father's Day!

The Summer Solstice officially marks the beginning of the season. The timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator.

This occurs annually on June 20th or June 21st depending on where you are on the Planet. The word solstice is derived from the Latin, meaning sol or Sun and stitium, to stop. Reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time and again at the Winter Solstice in December.

In temperate regions ie: latitudes that lie between the Tropics and the Polar circles, the Sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, and its rays strike the Earth at a more direct angle, causing the warming we call Summer. In the Winter, the opposite occurs; the Sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky. Its rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle, creating the weaker winter sunlight.

Solstice celebrations can still be found. Notably in England, the annual observance held at Stonehenge.

Now if only the weather in my small space of the Universe reflected the date! Been distinctly cool and damp lately. Never mind....its England; it rains.So welcome Summer and Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there! Get out and enjoy!

Thanks to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Stonehenge UK and Wikipedia for the factoids.