On either June 20th or 21st, each year, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day and shortest night of the year. This day marks the Summer Solstice, an astronomical event that takes place when one of Earth's poles has the maximum tilt toward the Sun. The Winter Solstice takes place on December 21 or 22, when the Sun follows the shortest track across the sky. As a direct consequence, that day experiences the fewest daylight hours and a particularly long nighttime. The North Pole is tilted away from the Sun by around 23.4° (23°27′) during the time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol" meaning Sun and "sistere" meaning to stand still.

June 21, 2023, marks the summer solstice, the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. This change in season is due to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth's axis compared to its orbit around the sun, allowing the most direct sunlight to reach the Northern Hemisphere this month. We will begin to see early dawns, long days, late sunsets, and short nights.

To understand what happens during the Summer Solstice, we need to consider Earth's axis. Earth's axis is an imaginary pole going through the centre of Earth from "top" to "bottom". Earth spins around this pole, completing one rotation each day. This rotation produces day and night, with every part of Earth's surface receiving some light.

But the tilt of the Earth's axis in connection with the Sun is always 23.5 degrees. The South Pole is tilted away from the Sun on June 21 or sometimes June 20, while the North Pole is tilted in the direction of the Sun. The summer solstice is the only time of year when the Earth's North Pole faces the Sun more directly than at any other time.

The Sun rises to its apex and travels along the longest path across the sky during the Summer Solstice. As a result, June 20 or 21 is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also the shortest night of the year and the first official day of summer. On the other hand, the Southern Hemisphere has its winter solstice in June, resulting in the shortest day of the year and the shortest amount of sunlight, signifying the unofficial start of winter.

According to recent scientific studies, the Earth's axis at the North Pole is said to have tilted over 4 centimetres per year between 1993 and 2010 due to the amount of groundwater humans have pumped from the planet's interior. This tilting of the North Pole is reportedly the result of human depletion of groundwater. Due to excessive groundwater pumping, humans have taken nearly 2,150 gigatons of water from the natural reserves of the earth. This slight shift in the usual characteristics of the Earth's surface will surely impact the overall life on the planet. We must bear in mind that our world is experiencing a decline as a result of excessive human activity, and we are already witnessing the effects of climate change, as well as the decreasing number of wildlife and marine life. It is our responsibility to ensure we're doing our part to protect and save the planet Earth, which is our only home.

In a nutshell, the Summer Solstice (21 or 20 June) marks the start of summer and the longest day of the year, which is no less than a phenomenal astronomical event. In addition to indicating the start of summer, the June 21 solstice offers a wonderful opportunity to honour World Music Day, International Yoga Day, and World Skateboarding Day. The summer solstice is a beautiful time to gather with friends and family to celebrate, taking advantage of the nice weather and longer daylight hours. Let's embrace this new beginning and enjoy the many wonders of summer by contributing towards saving Earth more and exploiting it less.