Which is the Smallest and Biggest Day of the Year?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 9th, 2023
The winter solstice and the summer solstice are the smallest and biggest day of the year respectively. The summer solstice is referred to as the start of the summer season and is the longest or biggest day of the year. The day usually falls on the 21 June and has the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. This happens because the earth is slightly tilted when it orbits the sun.
On the other hand, the winter solstice is the day which receives minimal sunlight and is the smallest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It falls on the 21 December every year.
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Smallest and Biggest Day of the Year
A solstice is an astronomical event when the axis of the earth is relatively high in relation to the sun. After the occurrence of the summer solstice, the days begin to shorten till the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere. The summer and winter solstice has been celebrated since ancient times as many monuments are associated with these events.
- On the summer solstice,the northern hemisphere experiences the longest day, when the sun is in the sky for a significantly longer period of time than usual.
- The day with the longest amount of daylight is the one when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
- The sun faces at its highest angular tilt that day.
- The winter solstice, or December 21, is a day with the least amount of sunlight in the southern hemisphere since the sun sets early.
- Therefore, as opposed to the June Solstice, when it takes 13 hours and 50 minutes, the sun crosses the equator far earlier, at 8 hours and 50 minutes.
Summary:
Which is the Smallest and Biggest Day of the Year?
The summer solstice is the smallest day of the year, and it occurs on the 21st of June, whereas the winter solstice is the biggest day of the year which falls on the 21st of December. The days begin to shorten after the summer solstice until the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere.
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