What's the astronomical name for either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator?

This astronomical event occurs twice a year because of Earth's axial tilt. Our planet doesn't spin straight up and down relative to its orbit; instead, it's tilted about 23.5 degrees. This tilt means that for half the year, the Northern Hemisphere is angled more toward the sun, and for the other half, the Southern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight. The two moments when this tilt is at its absolute maximum are the solstices, marking the point when the sun's path is farthest north or south of the equator.

The name itself offers a clue to what we observe from Earth. It comes from the Latin words "sol" (sun) and "sistere" (to stand still). Around the time of a solstice, the sun's apparent path across the sky seems to halt its seasonal north-south drift before reversing direction. This celestial pause marks the beginning of either summer or winter and gives us the longest and shortest days of the year, depending on the hemisphere.

For millennia, cultures have marked these days with festivals and monuments. Ancient structures like Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland are famously aligned with the rising or setting sun on the solstices. These alignments demonstrate a deep, long-standing human connection to observing the sun’s journey and the changing of the seasons.