The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere arrived early this year, marking the longest day of the year. The phenomenon occurs when Earth's north pole is most tilted towards the sun. The early arrival is due to quirks in the calendar and leap years.
Key Points
Summer solstice arrived earliest in over two centuries
Due to the Earth's orbit around the sun and leap years
The phenomenon marks the longest day of the year
Pros
Marks the beginning of astronomical summer
Provides interesting historical context
Cons
Does not delve deep into the scientific explanation of the summer solstice