Q 01/05

By the meteorological convention, which three months make up summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

A) May, June and July

B) June, July and August

C) July, August and September

D) April, May and June

Answer · why

B) June, July and August

Meteorologists use whole calendar months so records line up neatly, which is why their summer starts on 1 June rather than at the solstice.

Q 02/05

In Australia and New Zealand, on what date does summer officially begin?

A) 21 December

B) 1 November

C) 1 December

D) 1 January

Answer · why

C) 1 December

Australians spend Christmas Day at the beach for the same reason: their summer runs 1 December to the end of February.

Q 03/05

On which two June dates does the Northern Hemisphere summer solstice usually fall?

A) The 24th or 25th

B) The 30th or 1st

C) The 14th or 15th

D) The 20th or 21st

Answer · why

D) The 20th or 21st

Because the calendar year and the tropical year do not match exactly, the moment of solstice drifts between the 20th and 21st (and very rarely the 22n...

Q 04/05

In the Julian calendar of the Roman Empire, on what date did the summer solstice fall?

A) 21 June

B) 15 July

C) 1 June

D) 24 June

Answer · why

D) 24 June

That is why so many European Midsummer festivals cluster on 23-24 June rather than on the astronomical solstice.

Q 05/05

The 'dog days' of summer are named after the heliacal rising of which star?

A) Vega

B) Sirius

C) Arcturus

D) Antares

Answer · why

B) Sirius

The Romans blamed the Dog Star for the heat, lethargy and disease of late summer, and the phrase is a direct translation of their dies caniculares.