Earth to Experience Shortest Days in July, August 2025, Says Jeddah Astronomy Society
According to the Jeddah Astronomy Society, Earth is expected to experience some of its shortest days on record in July and August 2025, due to a slight increase in the planet’s rotation speed. While this change is imperceptible in everyday life, it holds importance for technologies such as satellite navigation (GPS), communications systems, and astronomical observations.
Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Society, highlighted predictions from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which indicate that three of the shortest days in modern history will occur on July 9 (1.30 milliseconds shorter), July 22 (1.38 milliseconds shorter), and August 5 (1.51 milliseconds shorter) in 2025. Earth typically completes one full rotation every 24 hours, or 86,400 seconds.
Since 2020, atomic clocks—highly accurate timekeeping devices—have detected subtle reductions in day length. The shortest day recorded so far was June 29, 2022, which was 1.59 milliseconds shorter than the average.
Abu Zahra explained that these measurements are made by comparing data from atomic clocks with various time standards, enabling scientists to monitor tiny fluctuations in Earth’s rotational speed. Potential causes for the acceleration include shifts in Earth’s liquid core, redistribution of mass due to melting polar ice, rising sea levels, major earthquakes, and gravitational interactions with the Moon.
Related Topics :
Jeddah Astronomy: Saturn’s Opposition to Sun Today
The last giant full moon of 2022 to appear in the sky today
Saudi Arabia & Arab world witness a rare astronomical phenomenon
Hajj 2025: Registration for Pilgrims Housing in Madinah Commences on Sunday
