Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice. Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer.

Gulf of Mexico map. Image: Wikimedia A federal judge in Tallahassee, Florida, has sentenced a commercial fishing captain to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his deckhands.

This solstice falls between June 20 and 22. Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year.

The summer solstice is here. What to know about the longest day of the year Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer.

During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year.