Summer solstice 2026

Storm Valkyrie: The first quarter phase of the strawberry moon on 21st June 2026. This is the Summer Solstice and a significant time. It's going to be the longest day of the year. This will last until well into night, making golden sunshine very large and brightening the night. It also means the Midsummer night will be the shortest night of the year. Night (hours of darkness) will last for about 6 hours. The sun sets at 9:45 pm but even so, it will still be very light. Sunrise will happen at 4:29 but it would already be very light then. 

Bare in mind that twilights will be brighter and light before the sun appears, as the sunrise and sunsets at angles further north, because the summer horizon appears different, due to the journey of the year. These are called "shallow sunsets." The Northern Hemisphere is tilted 23.5 towards the sun. 

Shadow Girl: Nights during this time of year isn't really that dark. 

Storm Valkyrie: And this year, coinciding with the Summer Solstice is Fathers Day! 

Shadow Girl: A big double celebration for all of you sun worshippers. You can go out in your Boho summer dress and do some LARPing at a fairy festival, and then you'll visit Stonehenge! 

Storm Valkyrie: You would stay indoors, my dear! Typical of you in the shade, bingeing on cookies when you're watching horror films. If it's raining, I would just wear my boots and have a flask of hot tea. Oh and I forgot, Rayne of She Wolf Night and Luna of Blood Strawberry will each look forward to the full moon! 

Shadow Girl: LOL I will stay at home on the 21st June to watch the new season of House of the Dragon! My dad is getting a roast dinner and car materials. 

Storm Valkyrie: I will light a candle in memory of my late father. It will be on Sunday, which means the shops and restaurants will be closed. So everyone else, what are your plans for the 21st June?

Storm Valkyrie ☀️

World Environment Day

 As it's World Environment Day today, I wanted to briefly add something about animals quickly. 

Nagatitan Chaiyaphumensis is the name of a newly discovered dinosaur. It's fossil was found recently in Southeast Asia. It's a sauropod herbivore with a long neck. Believed to be so far the biggest dinosaur to walk the ground. Another species of Spinosaurus Mirabilis was found in the Sahara Desert in the region of Niger. It's been nicknamed "Hell Heron" although it hunted and ate mostly fish. Another species, Doolysaurus huhmin was found among the Aphae Islands, which is a cute story as this is a complete entire baby dinosaur, named after an animated character Dooly the Dinosaur from South Korea. 

In the UK is a magical sight of orange Painted Lady butterflies. These are a migrating butterfly that crosses to the UK every Spring and Summer. Among the insects, the Painted Lady butterflies travel thousands of miles. They return when the seasons turn cool in September to avoid the harsh winters. 

Ospreys and nightingales have been making a successful comeback in the UK. 

Worrying news about a rare white tailed eagle disappeared over the North Yorkshire Moors, and the satellite tag worn by this magnificent young bird has stopped working. Such birds have been part of a wildlife conservation, and police were informed, treating it as suspicious. I hope the chick is ok.

Storm Valkyrie