The Philippines has the longest day of the year today, June 21, as the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on June 21, according to Pagasa.
The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of the Earth’s northern axis towards the sun is at a maximum angle–and this happens around June 21 every year.
Pagasa urged the public to bring umbrellas, wear caps, or stay under the shade during the long day on Friday.
Due to the occurrence of this astronomical event, those in the Northern Hemisphere experience the longest daylight hours, while the nights become longer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Northern Hemisphere has been tilting towards the sun and getting more daylight since the vernal (spring) equinox in March.
The summer solstice marks the “start of the apparent southward movement of the sun in the ecliptic [the sun’s path in the sky].”
After the summer solstice, the days are expected to start becoming shorter as the “ber” months draw nearer. The shortest day or the winter solstice is expected on December 21, 2019.
