Mapped: The sunniest spots in America

The temperature outside may still be searing, but the U.S. has already passed its peak sunlight for the year. From here on, days across the country will get a little darker, as this series of maps by Wonkblog's Chris Ingraham show. The maps display the amount of sunlight that different parts of the U.S. receive throughout the year. "Between 1979 and 2011, the absolute sunniest day of the year has been July 8, according to the CDC's numbers, which ultimately come from NASA. On the flip side, the least-sunny day of the year is Dec. 26," writes Ingraham. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are just coming out of the period of peak sun in the lower 48. So go soak up some sun while you still can.