Latest news with #summerSolstice
The Sun
19-07-2025
- The Sun
I tried the unusual ‘midnight race' where the sun never sets – along with insane whale-watching and thermal baths
THE sun beams down on me as I run along the path. It's a beautiful running track, a little stream gurgles to my left, purple flowers and gorgeous greenery standing out against the bright blue sky as I sweat it out along with 2,500 other runners. 3 3 I look down at my watch to check my pace and notice the time – 10.30pm. Hang on. My bedtime is 10pm, what am I doing? I should explain. I'm in Iceland, where in the summer, there is almost 24 hours of sunlight every day. As a keen runner, I signed up to the Suzuki Midnight run to take on the summer solstice challenge and I'm in good company with more than 2,600 fellow runners. I meet a self-described 'little old lady' from Canada who wanted to explore Iceland for her 70th birthday and take on the run, an Aussie couple lining up for their race photo and a gaggle of Irish women who are raising cash for a pal with cancer. I've elected to do the 10km but you can sign up to the 5km or even push yourself to complete the 21km. And while I'm normally a morning runner, there's something fun about taking on this midnight challenge. As the race gun goes off, I soak up the sunshine and the gorgeous views. Afterwards, I'm met with an electrolyte drink and medal, and I'm swept up in the crowd of locals heading straight to the thermal pools to soak their tired muscles. Iceland also has plenty of other activities for any non-runners, thanks to its jaw-dropping nature. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival The afternoon before the race, I spent two hours whale watching, spotting humpbacks and minkes. Gearing up in a thick red suit and strapping on a life vest, I jump onto the RIB. Soon, we're heading out on to the open Atlantic. Suddenly, our boat veers to the left – our skipper has spotted something. The boat's engine is cut and the air is still with anticipation. 'Fwissshhhhhh'. Everyone jumps at the sound and turns to the right – there a massive humpback whale has breached out of the water, rolling its body along the surface. 3 It circles the boat, breaking the surface of the water several times until, with a final flick of its tail, it disappears into the depths. We spend two hours out on the water, spotting half a dozen humpbacks and even an elusive minke on the trip. We are also delighted to spot hundreds of puffins flying around a small island off the coast of Iceland's capital. It's a world away from the UK, despite being just a three-hour flight from London with Play Airlines. Later that night, as I finally drift off to sleep in my hotel room, the sky outside is still bright. My muscles might be a little sore, and my internal clock utterly confused, but it was definitely an adventure worth staying up past my bedtime.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hello, summer! June solstice brings the start of summer, and the longest day of the year, to North America
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Update: Summer officially begins tonight in North America! Read on to find out exactly when and year on the summer solstice, revelers at Stonehenge in England stay up all night to celebrate the dawn of the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, with many images streamed live. But this year, there's a twist: The summer solstice there will occur on a different day than the solstice in North America, due to time zone differences. So when is the summer solstice in 2025, and what's the science behind it? This year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs at 02:42 UTC on Saturday, June 21, 2025. That means it's at 10:42 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 20 and at 3:41 a.m. BST on Saturday, June 21. The event's name is instructive: "Sol" means "sun" in Latin, while "stice" means to stand still. That's exactly what appears to happen on two days each year — one between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22, and the other between June 20 and June 22 — when the sun rises and sets at its most northerly or southerly points on the horizon. If you consider the seasons and the sun's position in the sky, that checks out: The sun reaches its highest point in the midday sky in the Northern Hemisphere on the day of the summer solstice, which means it must be rising at its farthest northeast and setting at its farthest northwest. Precisely the opposite is happening in the Southern Hemisphere, where the June solstice is the winter solstice. When the sun is highest in the Northern Hemisphere's daytime sky, it's the lowest in the Southern Hemisphere's daytime sky. The situation is reversed for the December solstice, the longest day and the shortest night in the Southern Hemisphere. At the equinoxes ("equi" and "nox," meaning equal night), between March 19 and 21 and between Sept. 21 and 24, the sun appears to rise and set due east and west, respectively, from everywhere on Earth. Related: The 10 best stargazing events of 2025 RELATED STORIES —The 10 best stargazing events of 2025 —How does the summer solstice affect animals? —What color is the sun? Solstices and equinoxes happen because Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun, which causes the seasons. On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, so it receives the full glare of the sun's rays for the longest time and the day is therefore the longest. Following this logic, it would seem that the summer solstice should also be the warmest day of the year. However, there's a slight seasonal lag because our mostly watery planet takes time to absorb the heat, according to the Royal Meteorological Society. At the North Pole, the sun does not set on the summer solstice, while at the South Pole, the sun does not note: This article was updated on June 20 to mark the beginning of the summer solstice in North America.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wiltshire in Pictures: Steeds and sunrises
The memories of last weekend's dramatic summer solstice linger on, but life in Wiltshire keeps going. Racing returned to Salisbury this week, and a festival in Chalke is offering visitors the chance to travel back in time. Alongside these events, nature as - as ever - been putting on a show as the sunny days keep coming. Time-travellers paradise: Chalke History Festival is on all this week, featuring more than 170 experts and numerous re-enactors. The first few days have school visits during the day. Sublime solstice: While 25,000 went to Stonehenge for the summer solstice, a few thousand went to Avebury for the sunrise. However, the celebrations started very much in the dark and went past sunrise at the ancient site, where people gathered round with fire tricks and later on a sacred druid ceremony took place (below). Job done: Local dignitaries, including local MP John Glen, could not resist recreating a certain well-known Beatles album cover when celebrating the £4.5 million revitalisation of Salisbury Railway Station forecourt. Peaceful scenes: Stourhead near Warminster remains a popular place to visit - weather watcher Marciaspictures snapped this photo. Wildflowers: Weather watcher CraigRich captured the ups and downs of a British summer near the village of West Dean. Break in the clouds: Contributor Chully went out in the countryside near Calne to get this sunny moment. Seeing stars in Trowbridge: The town's Civic Centre hosted more than 80 children and young people for the annual Star Awards – an event to honour the resilience, talent and triumphs of Wiltshire Council's children in care and care-experienced young people. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wiltshire in Pictures: Special solstice sunrise Wiltshire in Pictures: Strawberry moon and cycling Wiltshire in Pictures: A Royal visit to the county Wiltshire in Pictures: Shindig and crop circles Wiltshire in pics: Shindigs and a princess visit Wiltshire in Pictures: Stunning Salisbury blooms Wiltshire in Pictures: VE Day and bank holiday sun Wiltshire in Pictures: Sunshine and school success Wiltshire in Pictures: Flowers and Easter flames Wiltshire in pics: Magical murals and an Easter donkey Wiltshire in Pictures: Blossoms and celebrations Wiltshire in pictures: Sun, wonky roads and pigeons Wiltshire in Pictures: Let the music play Wiltshire in pics: Spring equinox and indoor moon Wiltshire in pics: cows, Crufts and challenges Wiltshire in pictures: Sunshine and Shrove Tuesday Wiltshire in pictures: Crocuses and a tiny newt Wiltshire in pictures: Bird life and art hunt Wiltshire in Pictures: Romance in the animal world Wiltshire in Pics: Football, floods and remembrance Wiltshire in Pictures: Tunnels, murals and sunrises Wiltshire in Pictures: Toothbrushes, tigers and barges Wiltshire in pictures: animals enjoying the snow Wiltshire in pictures: Cold snap brings frosty scenes Wiltshire in pictures: Presents, bats and meerkats Wiltshire in Pictures: Star Wars and 'Fudgehenge' Wiltshire in Pics: Prince William and Storm Bert Wiltshire in pictures: Remembrance and light shows Wiltshire in pictures: Royal visit and mason's award Wiltshire in pictures: Halloween and sacred stones Wiltshire in pictures: Daleks, bats and pigs Wiltshire in pictures: Welcoming the troops home In pictures: Dragons, cows and Jane Austen Wiltshire in pictures: Culture and murals Wiltshire in pictures: Spinal tattoos to air tattoos Wiltshire in pictures: Exotic animals and Stonehenge Wiltshire in pictures: Silhouettes and bras Wiltshire in pictures: Reunions, sunflowers and maize Wiltshire in pictures: New sports hub and wartime cakes
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wiltshire in pictures: Steeds, scenery and sunrise
The memories of last weekend's dramatic summer solstice linger on, but life in Wiltshire keeps returned to Salisbury this week, and a festival in Chalke is offering visitors the chance to travel back in these events, nature as - as ever - been putting on a show as the sunny days keep coming. Time-travellers paradise: Chalke History Festival is on all this week, featuring more than 170 experts and numerous re-enactors. The first few days have school visits during the day. Sublime solstice: While 25,000 went to Stonehenge for the summer solstice, a few thousand went to Avebury for the sunrise. However, the celebrations started very much in the dark and went past sunrise at the ancient site, where people gathered round with fire tricks and later on a sacred druid ceremony took place (below). Job done: Local dignitaries, including local MP John Glen, could not resist recreating a certain well-known Beatles album cover when celebrating the £4.5 million revitalisation of Salisbury Railway Station forecourt. Peaceful scenes: Stourhead near Warminster remains a popular place to visit - weather watcher Marciaspictures snapped this photo. Wildflowers: Weather watcher CraigRich captured the ups and downs of a British summer near the village of West Dean. Break in the clouds: Contributor Chully went out in the countryside near Calne to get this sunny moment. Seeing stars in Trowbridge: The town's Civic Centre hosted more than 80 children and young people for the annual Star Awards – an event to honour the resilience, talent and triumphs of Wiltshire Council's children in care and care-experienced young people.
Bloomberg
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Sleep in Midnight Sun Means Sticking to Your Internal Clock
By and Elliot Burrin Save Hi, it's Naomi in Berlin and Elliot in London, where last week's summer solstice cost us some sleep. More on that in a moment, but first... The longest days of the year just slipped by, and the sun's still not setting until about 9:30 p.m. in both Berlin and London. In Newcastle in northern England, roughly at the latitude of the Alaska Peninsula, it never gets totally dark.
