The astronomy buffs are ready. So are the druids. Summer solstice has
nearly arrived.
Summer officially kicks off at 7:24 a.m. Friday. The sun today will reach
its northernmost point in the sky, offering Northern Hemisphere dwellers
the longest day of the year.
"Early observers thought that the sun appeared to stop and turn around,"
said Patrick Wiggins, NASA's Solar System Ambassador to Utah.
Solstice is derived from two Latin words -- sol is sun and sistere means
to stand. The sun will begin setting further south in the sky each night.
The Salt Lake Astronomical Society will hold a solstice party on Saturday
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harmons grocery store, 7800 S. 700 East, Midvale.
Telescopes with special filters will allow sun viewing.
"We can see Earth-sized clumps of gaseous material shooting off into
space," Wiggins said.
Venus should also be visible.
Wiggins said you might catch some druids in action in the western Utah
desert.
Visitors can watch the sun rise and set through the famous concrete sun
tunnels in Lucin.
Other groups celebrating summer solstice include the Salt Lake Valley
Atheists organization. At noon on Saturday, they will gather at Murray
Park for a picnic.
