Solstice by Caroline Starr Rose Art by Lauren Lowen

Welcome, winter, longest night, frozen mornings, day’s short light.

Hello, summer, sun runs long, golden evenings, night’s brief song. art © 2016 by Lauren Lowen 19 Sam’s Page 2016 winter solstice will happen at 5:44 A.M. on December 21. Set What’s a your alarm! But don’t expect to see much sun—this is the shortest day Solstice? of the year. The summer solstice is the oppo- site: the moment when the North Pole points most directly toward JUST LIKE YOU lugging a heavy the sun, in the Northern Hemi- backpack, the earth travels at a tilt. sphere. In 2017 it will happen on While the top part of the planet June 21 at 12:24 A.M. on the East (the Northern Hemisphere) leans Coast (just after midnight). Wear away from the sun, it’s winter there. sunscreen, because this is also the While it’s tilted closer to those longest day of the year. toasty rays, it’s summer. The Southern Hemisphere has In the Northern Hemisphere, its summer solstice at the same time the winter solstice is the moment that the Northern Hemisphere has each year when the North Pole its winter solstice, and vice versa. points most directly away from the Unfortunately, standing on your sun. If you live on the East Coast of head during the winter solstice the United States, for example, the will not turn it into summer. Summer Solstice (U.S.) Winter Solstice (U.S.) June 21 December 21 N N