Earliest solstice in 228 years coming this week

(CNN) – This year’s summer solstice, the longest day of sunlight, is the earliest in a whopping 228 years.

The summer solstice is 4:50 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.

Celebrations around the world include one at Stonehenge in England.

It’s the moment the sun reaches its highest point in the sky in the year.

USA Today reports this is the earliest solstice since June 20, 1796.

Back then, there were only 16 states in the union, and George Washington was the president.