Solstice & Equinox – A Darker View

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice will occur at 18:19HST today.

The Sun has reached the most southerly declination it will achieve this year. After today the Sun begins to move north in our skies.

Today will be the shortest day of the year for those of us located in the northern hemisphere.

Today is considered the start of winter for most cultures in the northern hemisphere, or the start of summer for those in the southern hemisphere.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Autumnal Equinox

The fall equinox will occur at 21:50HST today.

The equinox is defined as the time at which the Sun passes through the plane of the Earth’s equator. Until the next spring equinox occurs in 2020, the Sun will be located in the southern hemisphere with a negative declination coordinate.

Today the length of the day and night will be very near equal, thus the term equinox. the Sun will rise and set nearly exactly due east and due west.

Today is considered the start of fall for most cultures in the northern hemisphere, or the start of spring for those in the southern hemisphere.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

A Second Chance for Lāhainā Noon

Lāhainā Noon is that moment when the Sun is directly overhead. At the moment of Lāhainā Noon shadows disappear.

The first Lāhainā Noon of the year occurs in May as the Sun is moving northwards in the sky. The second chance to see Lāhainā Noon is in July as the Sun moves back to the south.

The table below gives the dates and times for this second Lāhainā Noon across the islands.

Lahiana Noon for July 2019
City	Long.	Lat.	Date	Time	Elevation
Naalehu	155°35’W	19°03’N	Jul 27	12:29HST	89.9
Hilo	155°05’W	19°42’N	Jul 24	12:27HST	89.9
Kona	155°59’W	19°39’N	Jul 25	12:30HST	89.9
Waimea	155°40’W	20°01’N	Jul 23	12:29HST	89.9
Hawi	155°50’W	20°14’N	Jul 22	12:30HST	89.9
Hana	156°00’W	20°46’N	Jul 19	12:30HST	89.9
Kihei	156°27’W	20°45’N	Jul 19	12:32HST	90.0
Kahalui	156°28’W	20°53’N	Jul 18	12:32HST	89.9
Lahaina	156°40’W	20°53’N	Jul 18	12:33HST	89.9
Lanai City	156°55’W	20°50’N	Jul 18	12:34HST	89.9
Kaunakakai	157°01’W	21°05’N	Jul 17	12:34HST	89.9
Honolulu	157°49’W	21°18’N	Jul 16	12:37HST	89.9
Kaneohe	157°48’W	21°25’N	Jul 15	12:37HST	89.9
Waialua	158°08’W	21°34’N	Jul 14	12:38HST	89.9
Lihue	159°22’W	21°58’N	Jul 11	12:43HST	89.9
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Apehelion

Earth’s apehelion will occur at 12:11HST today.

Apehelion occurs when the Earth reaches its furthest distance from the Sun for the year.

It may seem odd to some the apehelion occurs in the middle of summer. One must recall that the distance from the Sun is not the cause of our seasons, that is the effects of axial tilt.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Summer Solstice

The summer solstice will occur at 05:54HST today.

Sunset among the puʻu of Mauna Kea — Sunset light and fog in among the puʻu on the south flank of Mauna Kea

The Sun has reached the most northerly declination it will achieve this year. After today the Sun begins to move south in our skies.

Today will be the longest day of the year for those of us located in the northern hemisphere.

Today is considered the start of summer for most cultures in the northern hemisphere, or the start of winter for those in the southern hemisphere.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Waimea Lāhainā Noon Reminder

Today at 12:19HST will be Lāhainā Noon in Waimea on the Big Island, the moment when shadows disappear.

The exact date and time varies significantly across the islands and from year to year. The table below shows the time of Lāhainā Noon for various cities in 2019.

Lahiana Noon for May 2019
City	Long.	Lat.	Date	Time	Elevation
Naalehu	155°35’W	19°03’N	May15	12:19HST	89.9
Hilo	155°05’W	19°42’N	May18	12:17HST	89.9
Kona	155°59’W	19°39’N	May18	12:20HST	89.9
Waimea	155°40’W	20°01’N	May20	12:19HST	89.9
Hawi	155°50’W	20°14’N	May21	12:20HST	90.0
Hana	156°00’W	20°46’N	May23	12:21HST	89.9
Kihei	156°27’W	20°45’N	May23	12:23HST	89.9
Kahalui	156°28’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lahaina	156°40’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lanai City	156°55’W	20°50’N	May24	12:24HST	89.9
Kaunakakai	157°01’W	21°05’N	May25	12:25HST	89.9
Honolulu	157°49’W	21°18’N	May26	12:28HST	89.9
Kaneohe	157°48’W	21°25’N	May27	12:28HST	89.9
Waialua	158°08’W	21°34’N	May28	12:30HST	89.9
Lihue	159°22’W	21°58’N	May31	12:35HST	90.0
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Hilo & Kona Lāhainā Noon Reminder

Today will be Lāhainā Noon in Hilo and Kailua-Kona, the moment when shadows disappear.

The event will occur at 12:17HST in Hilo, and three minutes later further west in Kailua-Kona at 12:20HST.

The exact date and time varies significantly across the islands and from year to year. The table below shows the time of Lāhainā Noon for various cities in 2019.

Lahiana Noon for May 2019
City	Long.	Lat.	Date	Time	Elevation
Naalehu	155°35’W	19°03’N	May15	12:19HST	89.9
Hilo	155°05’W	19°42’N	May18	12:17HST	89.9
Kona	155°59’W	19°39’N	May18	12:20HST	89.9
Waimea	155°40’W	20°01’N	May20	12:19HST	89.9
Hawi	155°50’W	20°14’N	May21	12:20HST	90.0
Hana	156°00’W	20°46’N	May23	12:21HST	89.9
Kihei	156°27’W	20°45’N	May23	12:23HST	89.9
Kahalui	156°28’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lahaina	156°40’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lanai City	156°55’W	20°50’N	May24	12:24HST	89.9
Kaunakakai	157°01’W	21°05’N	May25	12:25HST	89.9
Honolulu	157°49’W	21°18’N	May26	12:28HST	89.9
Kaneohe	157°48’W	21°25’N	May27	12:28HST	89.9
Waialua	158°08’W	21°34’N	May28	12:30HST	89.9
Lihue	159°22’W	21°58’N	May31	12:35HST	90.0
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Lāhainā Noon

Lāhainā Noon is that moment when the Sun is directly overhead. At the moment of Lāhainā Noon shadows disappear.

As the islands lie south of the Tropic of Cancer there is a day when the Sun will pass directly overhead as the summer solstice approaches, generally in late May. There is a second noon as the Sun’s position moves south again in July.

The term Lāhainā Noon is unique to the islands, being adopted by the Bishop Museum in the 1990’s to describe this event. The Hawaiian term lā hainā translates roughly as cruel Sun.

The exact date and time varies significantly across the islands and from year to year. The table below shows the time of Lāhainā Noon for various cities in 2019.

Lahiana Noon for May 2019
City	Long.	Lat.	Date	Time	Elevation
Naalehu	155°35’W	19°03’N	May15	12:19HST	89.9
Hilo	155°05’W	19°42’N	May18	12:17HST	89.9
Kona	155°59’W	19°39’N	May18	12:20HST	89.9
Waimea	155°40’W	20°01’N	May20	12:19HST	89.9
Hawi	155°50’W	20°14’N	May21	12:20HST	90.0
Hana	156°00’W	20°46’N	May23	12:21HST	89.9
Kihei	156°27’W	20°45’N	May23	12:23HST	89.9
Kahalui	156°28’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lahaina	156°40’W	20°53’N	May24	12:23HST	89.9
Lanai City	156°55’W	20°50’N	May24	12:24HST	89.9
Kaunakakai	157°01’W	21°05’N	May25	12:25HST	89.9
Honolulu	157°49’W	21°18’N	May26	12:28HST	89.9
Kaneohe	157°48’W	21°25’N	May27	12:28HST	89.9
Waialua	158°08’W	21°34’N	May28	12:30HST	89.9
Lihue	159°22’W	21°58’N	May31	12:35HST	90.0
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Vernal Equinox

The spring equinox will occur at 19:20HST today.

The equinox is defined as the time at which the Sun passes through the plane of the Earth’s equator. Until the fall equinox occurs on Sep 22nd, the Sun will be located in the northern hemisphere with a positive declination coordinate.

Today the length of the day and night will be very near equal, thus the term equinox. the Sun will rise and set nearly exactly due east and due west.

Today is considered the start of spring for most cultures in the northern hemisphere, or the start of fall for those in the southern hemisphere.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services

Perihelion

Earth’s perihelion will occur at 19:20HST today.

Perihelion occurs when the Earth reaches its closest distance to the Sun for the year.

It may seem odd to some the perihelion occurs in the middle of winter. One must recall that the distance from the Sun is not the cause of our seasons, that is the effects of axial tilt.

2019 Apsides and Seasons
Event	Universal Time		Hawaii Standard Time
Perihelion	Jan 03	05:20UT	Jan 02	19:20HST
Spring Equinox	Mar 20	21:58UT	Mar 20	11:58HST
Summer Solstice	Jun 21	15:54UT	Jun 21	05:54HST
Aphelion	Jul 04	22:11UT	Jul 04	12:11HST
Fall Equinox	Sep 23	07:50UT	Sep 22	21:50HST
Winter Solstice	Dec 22	04:19UT	Dec 21	18:19HST
Data from US Naval Observatory Data Services