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solstice 1. One of the two points of the ecliptic farthest from the celestial equator; one of the two points on the celestial sphere occupied by the sun at maximum declination. That in the Northern Hemisphere is called the summer solstice and that in the Southern Hemisphere the winter solstice. Also called solstitial point. See also equinox. 2 . That instant at which the sun reaches one of the solstices, about June 21 (summer solstice) or December 22 (winter solstice), the longest and shortest days of the year. Solstice means "sun stands still," which can be explained by recording the motion of the point of sunrise or sunset throughout the year. This point runs rather rapidly across due east and west (on the equinoxes) and stands for nearly two months each near its extreme excursions during the solstices. On the solstices, the difference between the duration of daylight and darkness is the greatest for the year, and the sun rises and sets at its extreme excursions from east and west. For example, in the northern summer, the sun rises the farthest to the north of east that it will for the year. The extent of this excursion off of east and west is called the sun's amplitude. Its magnitude depends on the latitude of observation.

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