Summer season solstice: How you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Mars and Venus within the sky

Jun 20, 2023 at 6:49 PM
Summer season solstice: How you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Mars and Venus within the sky

Signalling the beginning of summer time within the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter beneath the equator, the summer time solstice is right here.

It will happen on Wednesday 21 June at 15:57 BST.

It marks the longest day and shortest night time of the 12 months, and 2023 is predicted to bear witness to a solstice gathering of the moon, Mars and Venus.

According to Stellarium charts, these can be seen in London as they head in direction of the western horizon.

What is the summer time solstice?

During a summer time solstice, there may be extra daylight through the day and the hours through the night time are at a minimal.

“Most people consider the summer solstice to be a day, it is in reality an exact moment in time that falls upon that day. This moment comes when whichever hemisphere you’re in is most tilted towards the Sun,” the Royal Museums Greenwich has mentioned.

How to observe

Although it might be doable to view with the bare eye – binoculars or a telescope will hopefully present a extra seen close-up view of the three planets.

Venus may be seen within the daytime and can seem like a vivid speck of white gentle towards the blue sky.

Once the solar units, the moon, Venus and Mars are anticipated to turn into extra seen.

According to Space.com – Mars can be near Venus – it provides: “About 4 degrees to its upper left, appearing to shine rather feebly, will be Mars. You’ll likely need binoculars to see it at all in the bright twilight even after Venus becomes obvious.”

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Celebrating the summer time solstice at Stonehenge

People mark the summer time solstice in several methods around the globe.

In the UK, Stonehenge has been the centre of the celebration, because the stones are lined as much as body the rising of the Sun on the solstice.

In Sweden, the celebration is called midsummer and is usually celebrated within the countryside.

This historically entails gathering with family and friends whereas elevating and dancing round a maypole.

During this time, folks additionally enhance their houses with greenery and bask in food and drinks.

In the US, 1000’s of Yoga lovers collect in Time Square, New York, to have a good time the approaching of summer time with free yoga.