Summer officially begins: interesting facts you may not know
Summer 2026 officially began on June 21 at 10:24 a.m., according to calculations by the National Astronomical Observatory.
This phenomenon, known as the summer solstice, marks the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and becomes the day with the most hours of sunlight of the year. The season will last 93 days and 16 hours, until September 23rd, when autumn begins.
Beyond beaches and vacations, summer holds scientific curiosities that make it special. For several days, the sun’s maximum altitude at midday appears to remain constant, which is why it’s called the “solstice,” Latin for ” sun standing still.” While the Northern Hemisphere celebrates the arrival of warmer weather and longer days, winter begins in the Southern Hemisphere.
Beaches with crystal-clear waters
The summer sky also offers unique spectacles. On the warmest and shortest nights of the year, planets like Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter can be observed after sunset, and Mars and Saturn before dawn. In addition, the famous Summer Triangle, formed by the stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega, visible in the constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, is a highlight.
This summer of 2026 will have an added attraction: the solar eclipse of August 12, one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena of the year. Experts point out that it will be a unique opportunity to observe how the Moon partially obscures the Sun in the middle of summer.
