Show longest and shortest days the longest longest and shortest days of at the year are determined by the summer and winter solstices the exact time being determined by mathematical calculation the sol slices are the times of the year when the sun is at its greatest declination li either north or south for instance the summer solstice is the time when the sun reaches its farthest point in its swing northward from the equator which accord accordingly in 9 marks the longest day of the year the year consists of approximately days and it Is this fractional dakof day of each year which causes the solstices to fluctuate this is adjusted by the leap years however the longest and shortest days differ in length from the days immediately preceding and following them by only a traction fraction of a minute |