* Solstice refers to the time of year when the Earth's axis is tilted most directly towards or away from the Sun.
* Summer solstice is when the Sun shines most directly on one hemisphere, resulting in the longest day of the year in that hemisphere.
* Winter solstice is when the Sun shines most directly on the opposite hemisphere, resulting in the shortest day of the year in the hemisphere experiencing winter.
Here's the key point: The Sun doesn't just shine on one hemisphere during a solstice. It shines on the entire Earth, but the angle at which the light hits is what determines the length of daylight and the intensity of the Sun's rays.
