June solstice marks start of astronomical summer in Northern Hemisphere (opens in new tab)

The June solstice occurred at 8:25 UTC on June 21, 2026, marking the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The solstice brought the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day and shortest night of the year, while the Southern Hemisphere had its shortest day and longest night. The solstice is caused by Earth’s axial tilt, with the northern half of the planet leaning most directly toward the sun. EarthSky said the sun reached its nort...