Summer Solstice To Occur Saturday Morning, Marking Start Of Astronomical Summer In Jordan

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, June 19 (Petra) – President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Sakaji, announced that the summer solstice for 2024 will occur at 5:42 a.m. on Saturday, marking the official start of summer in Jordan and across the Northern Hemisphere.
In a statement issued Thursday, Sakaji explained that summer will last 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes, ending with the autumnal equinox on September 22. The solstice will bring the longest day and shortest night of the year in Jordan, as the sun's position in the sky reaches its highest point, resulting in the greatest time span between sunrise and sunset.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun's rays are directly perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, as the Earth's axial tilt reaches its maximum angle toward the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. Following this, the sun will begin its apparent journey southward, gradually shortening daylight hours until the winter solstice on December 21.
This year's solstice coincides with a rare astronomical event known as the "primary lunar solstice," which happens approximately every 18.6 years. During this cycle, the moon reaches its maximum northward or southward declination in its orbit, causing it to rise and set from unusual points on the horizon.
Sakaji noted that this lunar phenomenon was observable during the full moon on June 11, when the moon appeared unusually low in the sky, tilted toward the southern horizon, creating a contrast with the sun's high position during the solstice.
He emphasized that this contrast between the sun's and moon's paths offers a unique opportunity for astronomical observation. Historically, such events were used by ancient civilizations to design temples, plan agricultural activities, and construct calendar systems based on celestial alignments.
The Jordanian Astronomical Society continues to monitor and document these astronomical events by recording solar angles and tracking the sun's path from multiple locations across the Kingdom, with the aim of promoting scientific awareness and public interest in astronomy.

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