solstice
UK: ˈsɒl.stɪs | US: ˈsɑːl.stɪs
n. the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination, marked by the longest and shortest days (summer and winter solstice).
solstice = sol<sun> + stice<standing>
- sol (from Latin sol, meaning "sun")
- stice (from Latin sistere, meaning "to stand still," via solstitium → sol + stitium "standing")
Etymology Origin:
The word solstice originates from Latin solstitium, combining sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). This reflects the ancient observation that the sun appears to "pause" at its northernmost or southernmost point in the sky before reversing direction. The term captures the astronomical phenomenon where daylight duration seems stationary for a brief period.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ancient cultures celebrated the winter solstice as a rebirth of the sun.
Stonehenge aligns with the sunrise during the solstice.
The December solstice brings the shortest daylight hours.
Scientists measure the exact moment of the solstice using celestial coordinates.