Celebrate Summer Solstice In Metro Detroit With These Events

METRO DETROIT — As if summer events in the metro Detroit area aren’t already in full swing, here’s another reason to celebrate the season: The June solstice, regarded as the official start to summer, arrives Wednesday.

Here are some ways to celebrate the summer solstice in the Detroit area:

• Livonia Spree, Livonia, June 20-25
• Shimmer on the River, Robert C. Valade Park, Detroit, June 22
• Taylor Summer Festival, Heritage Park, Taylor, June 22-25
• 4th Annual Canterbury Taco Fest, Canterbury Village, Lake Orion, June 23-25
• Royal Oak Taco Fest, Downtown Royal Oak, June 30-July 4

The sun travels its longest path through the sky on the day of the summer solstice, which occurs the exact moment Sol reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky, making it the longest day of the year in terms of daylight. In the Detroit area, that’s at 10:57 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

On Wednesday, the sun will rise at 5:55 a.m. in the Detroit area and will set at 9:12 p.m., meaning we’ll see about 15 hours and 16 minutes of daylight.

You can read more about the science of the summer solstice on The Old Farmer’s Almanac website.

The summer solstice offers a short window to see electric blue noctilucent clouds, the highest in Earth's atmosphere, which float about 50 miles above our planet's surface near the edge of space, which starts at an altitude of 62 miles.

As you’re filling out your summer calendar, block out a few dates for the summer meteor showers. The Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids and Perseids all start in July.

• Read More: 2023 Guide To Meteor Showers And Other Celestial Events

Also, the July 3 full buck moon is the first of four consecutive supermoons. They’re not that much different from other full moons, but they do appear to be bigger and brighter.

And, who knows, you may get a chance to see the aurora borealis as the sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle goes into overdrive as it approaches what’s known as “solar maximum.” When this happens, the sun’s magnetic fields flip, creating a greater number of sunspots that can set off the ethereal northern lights displays.

• Read More: Aurora Borealis Displays More Likely In Active Solar Storm Season | Aurora Borealis Hunting: What’s A Kp Index, More Northern Lights Tips