Jordan is witnessing the summer solstice on Sunday morning, marking the official astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Dr. Ammar Al-Sakji, President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society.
Al-Sakji said that the exact moment of the summer solstice will occur at 11:23 a.m. Jordan time, when the Sun appears to reach its northernmost point in the sky and its rays become directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, located at 23.5 degrees north latitude.
He explained that the day of the summer solstice brings the longest daylight period of the year in Jordan, with approximately 14 hours and 14 minutes of daylight, accompanied by the shortest night of the year. Daylight hours will gradually begin to decrease after this date until the autumnal equinox.
According to Al-Sakji, astronomical summer this year will last approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 40 minutes, ending with the autumnal equinox at dawn on Wednesday, September 23.
He noted that the summer solstice is caused by the Earth’s axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees as it orbits the Sun, rather than changes in the distance between the Earth and the Sun. In fact, the Earth is relatively farther from the Sun during this period than during some winter months.
Al-Sakji added that the day also features the shortest shadows of the year at local noon, as the Sun reaches its highest apparent elevation in the sky at around 12:38 p.m. local time.
He explained that the term “solstice” originates from Latin and means “the Sun stands still,” referring to the apparent slowing of the Sun’s northward movement before it begins its gradual journey southward over the following months.
Observers can also notice that the Sun’s daily path becomes more arched during this period. It rises from its northernmost point on the northeastern horizon and sets at its northernmost point on the northwestern horizon, providing the longest period of natural daylight of the year.
Al-Sakji emphasized that the summer solstice holds special significance in human history, having been linked for thousands of years to agricultural seasons and traditional celebrations in many cultures. It has also influenced the design of numerous archaeological and astronomical landmarks aligned with sunrise and sunset positions.
He added that Jordan’s summer skies are adorned with several bright celestial objects and prominent star formations, most notably the Summer Triangle, along with a number of distinctive stars and summer constellations that create an impressive spectacle for skywatchers.
The Jordanian Astronomical Society continues to conduct annual observations and astronomical measurements on the day of the summer solstice from various locations across the Kingdom, documenting sunrise and sunset times, daylight duration, and astronomical angles for scientific and archival purposes.
