Lokacin rani shine lokacin da kusurwar duniya ke karkata zuwa kusa da rana, wanda ke haifar da mafi tsayin rana da mafi karancin dare na shekara. A Arewacin Hemisphere, lokacin rani yakan faru ne a ranar 20 ko 21 ga Yuni, yayin da a Kudancin Kudancin, yakan faru ne a ranar 21 ga Disamba ko 22 ga Disamba. Kalmar “solstice” ta fito ne daga kalmomin Latin sol (rana) da sistere (ta tsaya cak), tana nufin cewa a lokacin da ake yin faɗuwar rana, rana ta bayyana ta tsaya cak a sararin sama kafin ta juya alkibla.