Summer Solstice 2022 Arrives Tuesday: Things To Do In Florida

FLORIDA — Summer 2022, which officially begins Tuesday with the June solstice, feels more like pre-COVID-19 summers in Florida.

There’s plenty to do around the Sunshine State this summer, including lounging on the beach or relaxing in one of the state's freshwater springs like Ginnie Springs; picking up shells on the shore of Sanibel Island; taking in the circus history at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota; join the crowds at Disney World or Universal Studios in Orlando; learn about exploration at the Kennedy Space Center; drive Route 1 through the Keys, check out the vibrant scene in Key West, and more.

The 2022 June solstice, which marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, occurs Tuesday at 5:13 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

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.

On Tuesday, the sun will rise at 6:34 a.m. in the Tampa area and will set at 8:28 p.m., meaning we’ll see about 13 hours and 54 minutes of daylight.

The heat of summer sets in this week, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 94 degrees on Tuesday. Highs later in the week will reach the upper 90s.

You can read more about the science of the summer solstice on The Old Farmer’s Almanac website. The more urgent concern is how you’re going to spend the summer. Here are a few ideas:

Put Your Head In The Sky

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.

Also, through the end of June, check out a rare planetary alignment that won’t be seen again for decades. Around June 24 is the best date to look, according to the private weather company AccuWeather, because a crescent moon will join the lineup of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in the predawn sky.

• Related: Rare Planet Alignment, Supermoon, 'Electric Blue Clouds' Star In June

Watch For Shooting Stars

The summer meteor showers start in July with the Delta Aquariids, which run for more than a month and peak in late July, but you won’t have to wait to lose yourself in the full wonder of the summer sky.

• Related: 2022 Guide To Meteor Showers And Other Celestial Events

The shooting star show you really want to catch is the Perseid meteor shower, which produces up to 60 shooting stars an hour at the peak. The shower, which runs July 17 to Aug. 24, is known for producing large numbers of bright meteors. The Perseids fly mainly after midnight and can be seen anywhere in the sky, though they radiate from the constellation Perseus.

Owooooo! Howl At The Moon

You’ll also have a few chances to howl at a full moon this summer, a perfect primordial tradition that developed in some neighborhoods as people looked for ways to stay connected while staying apart during the pandemic.

But why ditch it now that people are getting out more? Of particular interest for howling are the next two full moons, the full buck moon on July 13 and the full sturgeon moon on Aug. 12. Both qualify as supermoons, and though they’re not any different from other full moons, they appear to be bigger and brighter.

• You May Also Like: Aurora Borealis Hunting: What’s A Kp Index; More Northern Lights Tips

Also, don’t miss the last full moon of the summer on Sept. 10. It’s known as the full harvest moon.

Light Your Fire In The Back Yard

Humans have been drawn to fire since they first encountered it, ultimately using it for heat, light and protection against predators.

Depending on where you live, nothing says summer like gathering — a safe distance apart from one another — and spinning stories around a bonfire in the back yard.

Suburban dwellers typically have to rely on a fire pit, fire ring or chiminea, and the use of those is often regulated by city and fire officials.