Philippines to experience longest day tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and other countries in the northern hemisphere will experience the longest day of the year tomorrow during the summer solstice, the state weather bureau said.

“Philippine nights are at their shortest and daytimes are at their longest during the summer solstice, which falls on June 21,” according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The summer solstice happens every year between June 20 and 22 when the Sun reaches its highest elevation in the northern hemisphere.

PAGASA’s astronomical publication unit chief Jose Mendoza said in Metro Manila, people will experience a total of 13 hours of daylight.

“In Metro Manila, the sun will rise at 5:28 a.m. and set at 6:28 p.m.,” he said.

The summer solstice refers to the time when the sun attains its greatest declination of +23.5 degrees and passes directly overhead at noon for all observers at latitude 23.5 degrees North, which is known as the Tropic of Cancer.

“This event marks the start of the apparent southward movement of the sun in the ecliptic,” PAGASA said.

In the United Kingdom, thousands of people visit Stonehenge each year to celebrate the summer solstice, the official start of summer. 

There will be 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight in the UK. The Sun will rise at 4:43 a.m. and set at 9:21 p.m.

The term solstice derives from Latin words “sol” which means sun and “sistere” which means to make stand, according to dictionary.com.