This year, the summer solstice falls on June 20th, marking the shortest night of the year. According to Michał Kowalczuk, a meteorologist from the IMGW, at the northernmost point of Poland, Cape Rozewie, the night will last just 6 hours and 39 minutes. The length of the night during the summer solstice varies with geographical location, becoming shorter the further north one goes. As a result, on Thursday, the sun will set the latest at Cape Rozewie.
A Day Almost 17 Hours Long
“At Cape Rozewie, the day can last up to 17 hours and 21 minutes,” Kowalczuk reported. This is approximately nine hours longer than the shortest day of the year. While the night at Cape Rozewie will be 6 hours and 39 minutes long, the average night length in Poland will be around 7 hours and 15 minutes. In contrast, in Iceland, the sun will set just three minutes past midnight local time, making for an exceptionally long day.
Kowalczuk noted that the solstice will occur around 10:50 PM, marking the point after which days will start getting shorter. On this day, the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, illuminating the Northern Hemisphere more intensely. Currently, the Northern Hemisphere experiences a polar day, while the Southern Hemisphere endures a polar night. On Thursday, astronomical winter begins in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in its shortest day of the year.
Astronomical vs. Meteorological Summer
Kowalczuk explained that astronomical summer, tied to the Earth’s position relative to the sun, is more natural. In contrast, meteorological summer has fixed dates—from June 1 to August 31—to simplify statistical analysis and comparison of data over the years.