UKH

Waiting for sunrise  

Witnessed it whilst walking the pooches about an hour and a half ago  Hadn't realised it was the summer solstice though otherwise I'd have taken a virgin with me to sacrifice.  Bummer.  Enjoy!

Gosh actual sunrise not until 4:39 here and still waiting for the sun to clear the treeline in the distance. 

Maybe it won't show up where you are!

Actually, isn't it tomorrow?

Well, it's 22:43 tonight as I recall, so take your pick really. Today seems to be the consensus on the web. 

Yes, seems to be. Google for some reason says tomorrow. 

I was always led to believe the solstice was June 21, but have lately come to realise that the precise moment fluctuates and that the 21st is just the average.

There's some odd stuff out there. The other month there were three nights classified as having a full moon. I think it may have been a typo. I understand why it can be called full for two nights.

Ah yes, but is there such a thing as a precise moment that fluctuates?

Good point.  But I think the moment of the solstice is when at the local noon somewhere in the world at 23.5 degrees latitude the sun is exactly overhead. This can be at any time GMT or BST in the UK. Someone else will be along shortly to say I'm wrong. 

We had the briefest of red skies at Teignmouth at 0503. Then headed to the moor for a walk and a takeaway cuppa from the Fox Tor Cafe. Early, but nice start to the day 😁

I was really hoping to join in with the annual Cardiff to the beach (Swansea) over night bike ride this year. But covid had scuppered that. I've done it twice before and it's great fun but the last few years I've been injured or out of the country and next year I'll be the other end of the country.

The main thing I enjoy (other than the scientific banter) is the history and the paganism. Get out there and make chalk drawings - or make things on chalk drawings After all, it's not every day the sun stands still.