夏天的開始：2003年6月21日

夏天到了！許多年以來，6月21日代表著夏天正式到來了。這一天也就是天文學上的「夏至」 (summer solstice) ，也是一整年裡最長的一天 (白天時間最多) 。在這一天裡，太陽離地球赤道最為遙遠。不過當9月22日或23日的秋分 (autumnal equinox) 到來時，也意味著夏天結束了。

夏天對你來說代表著什麼呢？是學校會有長長的暑假，還是可以去游泳，也可以在大太陽底下吃著冰淇淋蛋捲筒？每年到了6月21日，代表北半球進入夏天，但是南半球的冬天卻才剛剛開始呢！


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!

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