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solstice science definition
- Either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun) reaches its greatest distance north or south of the celestial equator .
♦ The northernmost point of the Sun's path, called the summer solstice , lies on the Tropic of Cancer at 23°27: north latitude.
♦ The southernmost point of the Sun's path, called the winter solstice , lies on the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°27: south latitude. - Either of the two corresponding moments of the year when the Sun is directly above either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22, marking the beginning of summer and winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere). The days on which a solstice falls have the greatest difference of the year between the hours of daylight and darkness, with the most daylight hours at the beginning of summer and the most darkness at the beginning of winter. Compare equinox.
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