Longest Day of the Year 2024 in Austrália

Saturday, 21 December 2024

The Summer Solstice occurs at 20:23

The Summer Solstice is the first day of astronomical summer, although the more logical metrological summer begins December 1st / June 1st (depending on hemisphere).

Solstice sunrise, sunset and day length in Canberra

Sunrise

sunrise 05:46 Direction: 120°
First light: 05:16

Sunset

sunset 20:18 Direction: 240°
Last light: 20:48

How long is the longest day of the year?

15 hours, 32 minutes

For most of us the main feature of the Summer Solstice is that it is the day with the longest period of sunlight - or daylight at least! This officially occurs at the moment when the sun reaches a point directly overhead of the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 23.44° north) in the northern hemisphere or over the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern. At this point the respective hemisphere will receive sunlight at the most direct angle for that year.

Daylight & night hours for the Summer Solstice

Duração do dia para 2024-05-18
Noite Primeira luz:
3:57		 Crepúsculo:
5:15		 Nascer do sol:
5:45		 Pôr do sol:
20:17		 Crepúsculo:
20:47		 Última luz:
22:05		 Noite

During the December Solstice the sun will appear at its highest and most in the sky. Whilst this delivers the longest day of the year the actual length of this day will vary according to location. Those in more latitudes will experience markedly longer days than those closer to the Equator.

The evenings are already long at this time of year and the solstice is just the peak. So whilst it might seem like a day to celebrate, in fact days now start getting shorter. It is also worth pointing out that the Summer Solstice doesn't actually have the latest sunset - that occurs a few days later.

With the Sun's rays hitting the Earth more directly this is the time of year the sun is strongest with the highest levels of UV. That said because of "seasonal lag" temperatures still have a way to go before they max out in January or February

Summer Solstice Dates

In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between December 20, 21, 22, or 23 each year

Dates of longest day of the year in Austrália
Year Date Time (Solstice)
2020 21st December 21:06
2021 22nd December 03:02
2022 22nd December 08:51
2023 22nd December 14:30
2024 21st December 20:23
2025 22nd December 02:06
2026 22nd December 07:53
2027 22nd December 13:45
2028 21st December 19:23
2029 22nd December 01:17
2030 22nd December 07:13

The word solstice comes from Latin 'solstitium' meaning "the sun stands still". This is because the sun's path north or south stops before reversing direction.