Summer solstice

This evening, at 9.50pm, the sun will reach its most northerly point, the Tropic of Cancer. That means that today will be the longest day of the year and tonight will be its shortest night. Officially, summer has begun.

The word solstice comes, as does so much of our scientific nomenclature, from two Latin words: sol meaning sun and sistere, to stand still. At the solstice, to the casual observer, the sun appears to stop and stand still at its most northerly point for a couple of days before it begins its journey south.

All over the world, people celebrate the summer solstice but it marks a downward turn for much of our wildlife: seeds have been set and wildflowers begin to die down, breeding seasons are coming to an end and the nestlings have flown. The shortening days will mark the start of many species’ preparations for the winter.