At Stonehenge, what astronomical event attracts visitors at the monument each June?

The astronomical event attracting visitors to Stonehenge each June is the summer solstice.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Its stones are arranged along significant lines, including an alignment associated with sunrise at the summer solstice and sunset at the winter solstice. These alignments are among the reasons the monument is linked with prehistoric seasonal observation.

At the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences its longest day and shortest night. Visitors traditionally gather at Stonehenge to observe sunrise, although the monument’s original purposes remain debated. Suggested interpretations include ceremonial, astronomical and funerary roles.

The summer solstice is not always on the same numbered calendar date because the precise astronomical moment varies by year and time zone. It generally occurs on June 20 or June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. The event is distinct from an equinox, when day and night are approximately equal in length.