When is the summer solstice 2025?
The summer solstice marks the exact moment at which the Sun reaches its maximum maximum inclination to the north of the celestial equator, which gives rise to the longest day of the year and the shorter night in the northern hemisphere.
In 2025, this event occurs exactly on friday, june 20. These are the key hours:
- 10:42 p.m. EDT (Eastern Time, USA)
- 9:42 p.m. CDT (Central, including Texas)
The exact time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is:
- 2:42 a.m. on June 21 UTC
Why does it vary between June 20 and 21?
The exact day may change (June 20, 21 or even 22) due to the length of a solar year -approximately 365.24 days-, which makes the calendar out of sync with the seasons.
Astronomical and cultural significance
- The sun is placed directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) .
- Marks the beginning of the astronomical summer in the northern hemisphere and, at the same time, the astronomical winter in the southern hemisphere .
- Many cultures have celebrated the solstice with rituals and festivities, such as Stonehenge, St. John's Day festivals and indigenous celebrations.
Quick summary
| Event | Date and time (CDT) |
|---|---|
| Summer solstice | Friday, June 20, 2025 |
| Exact time | 9:42 p.m. |
| Start of the astronomical summer | June 20, 2025 |
Why is it relevant?
- Mark the day of maximum duration and the official start of the astronomical summer: a key moment for meteorology.
- The season begins with extreme temperatures, clear skies and important weather phenomena.
- It's perfect for generating visual and interactive content: sun maps, heat tips, cultural traditions...
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[...] Millions of people in the northern United States are under heat alerts as an expanding high pressure system, also known as a heat dome, is forecast to push temperatures in the Northeast into the triple digits just as astronomical summer arrives. [...]
[...] set their sights on scorching more than 30 states with potentially deadly heat during the first week of summer [...]