Editing Solstice (section)

{{Short description|Twice-annual astronomical event when the Sun is farthest from above the Earth's equator}}
{{About|the astronomical event|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Solstice-equinox}}

A '''solstice''' is the time when the [[Sun]] reaches its most northerly or southerly [[sun path|excursion]] relative to the [[celestial equator]] on the [[celestial sphere]]. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the [[season]]s of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the [[equinox]]es.

The term ''solstice'' can also be used in a broader sense, as the day when this occurs. For locations not too close to the equator or the poles, the dates with the longest and shortest periods of [[daylight]] are the summer and winter solstices, respectively. Terms with no ambiguity as to which hemisphere is the context are "[[June solstice]]" and "[[December solstice]]", referring to the months in which they take place every year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/summer-and-winter-solstices |title=The Summer and Winter Solstices |publisher=Scholastic |date=2017 |access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>