夏天的开始：2003年6月21日

夏天到了！许多年以来，6月21日代表着夏天正式到来了。这一天也就是天文学上的「夏至」 (summer solstice) ，也是一整年里最长的一天 (白天时间最多) 。在这一天里，太阳离地球赤道最为遥远。不过当9月22日或23日的秋分 (autumnal equinox) 到来时，也意味着夏天退出了。

夏天对你来说代表着什么呢？是学校会有长长的暑假，还是可以去游泳，也可以在大太阳底下吃着冰淇淋蛋卷筒？每年到了6月21日，代表北半球进入夏天，但是南半球的冬天却才刚刚开始呢！


Summer is here! In many years, June 21 marks the official start of summer. The event is marked by an astronomical event--the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (with the most daylight), which occurs when the sun is farthest from the earth's equator. The season ends with the autumnal equinox (with day and night equal in length) on September 22 or 23.

What does summertime mean to you? A long vacation from school? Swimming and ice cream cones melting in the sun? On June 21 it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but in the southern half of the globe, it's the beginning of winter!

1/3 页