Qatar will mark the official start of summer on Saturday, June 21, as the sun reaches its highest point over the Tropic of Cancer at 5.42am local time, according to the Qatar Calendar House (QCH).

This astronomical event, known as the summer solstice, brings the longest day and shortest night of the year for residents of the Northern Hemisphere, including Qatar.

Dr. Bashir Marzouq, an astronomy expert at QCH, explained, “Residents of the Northern Hemisphere, including Qatar, will experience the longest day and shortest night of the year, as the summer solstice will occur in the Northern Hemisphere. The opposite will be true for residents of the Southern Hemisphere, as the winter solstice will occur on the same day.”

The summer solstice is globally recognized as the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the sun will rise from the farthest point in the northeastern sky over Qatar, and the length of the shadow at noon - coinciding with the Dhuhr call to prayer - will be the shortest of the year.

Dr. Marzouq further noted, “The summer solstice phenomenon follows the vernal equinox, which occurred last March. The sun continued its apparent movement northward after being directly overhead on the equator on the vernal equinox. Daylight length gradually increased for residents of the Northern Hemisphere, culminating in the longest day and shortest night on Saturday. The opposite will occur on this day in the Southern Hemisphere, where the shortest day and longest night will occur.”

The occurrence of the four astronomical seasons - winter, spring, summer, and autumn - is due to the Earth’s orbit around the sun and the tilt of its axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees.

After the summer solstice, the sun will begin its apparent movement southward, leading to shorter days and longer nights until day and night become equal again on September 22, 2025, marking the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

The summer solstice is not only a key astronomical milestone but also a marker for climate changes, relied upon by communities around the world to track the progression of the seasons.

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