Seeing solstices and equinoxes from space

20 June 2012

Today (20 June) is the solstice, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere.

The date of the summer solstice depends on the shift of the calendar, in the Northern Hemisphere it can be any time between 20 June and 22 June. In 2012 the summer solstice is on 20 June at 23:09 UTC.

For a period of some days around the solstice it is possible for geostationary satellites to see what is known as the 'midnight Sun'. Because of the position of the Sun, the sunlight is reflected off the Northern polar region and in this case is seen by the Meteosat Second Generation satellites.

For more information click here.

Source: EUMETSAT