The Omani Astronomical Society has confirmed that the summer solstice phenomenon will occur tomorrow, marking the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. This astronomical event will last approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 52 minutes. Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al Mahrouqi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the society, stated that the summer solstice this year will take place at 12:50 after midnight, Omani time. During this time, the sun’s rays will be perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, covering regions such as Europe, Asia, North America, and the Arctic.
In Muscat, the daylight on the summer solstice will last for 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 51 seconds, making it the longest day of the year. Al-Mahrouqi noted that for residents of the northern half of the Earth, the summer solstice represents the first day of summer, while it is considered the first day of winter, or winter solstice, for those in the southern hemisphere. The Earth’s two movements, rotating on its axis and orbiting around the sun, result in the change of seasons. The tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation at 23.5 degrees explains the occurrence of solstices and equinoxes, leading to long summer days and short winter days.
While the summer solstice marks the sun being perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, leading to high temperatures, weather-specific changes can still occur during the season, such as heatwaves. Al-Mahrouqi emphasized that astronomical seasons are not necessarily linked to temperatures. Additionally, this astronomical event is accompanied by various phenomena on Earth, such as the beginning of the Dhofar autumn season astronomically and the absence of noon shadow in areas located on the Tropic of Cancer.
On the summer solstice, the sun rises from the farthest point to the northeast and sets at the furthest point to the northwest. The number of night hours decreases while the time of daylight hours increases. This transition marks the beginning of the autumn season, leading up to the autumnal equinox on September 22nd at 04:43 p.m. Overall, the summer solstice is a significant astronomical event that symbolizes the start of summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere, highlighting the Earth’s movements and the changing of seasons.
