what causes different sunrise times and sunset times over the course of the year

The combination of Earth’s elliptical orbit and the tilt of its axis results in the Sun taking different paths across the sky at slightly different speeds each day. This gives us different sunrise and sunset times each day. Once the summer solstice passes, you’ll notice the days begin to get shorter each day.

Full Answer

Why do sunrise and sunset times vary by area?

That’s because sunrise and sunset times depend on a number of variables, including longitude, latitude, altitude, and location in relationship to your specific Time Zone. Here’s a look at how each of these factors affects your area’s sunrise and sunset times.

Why does the sun rise and set later in the morning?

As if all of these factors weren’t enough, altitude also plays a role. Generally speaking, the higher your location is, the earlier the Sun will rise, and the later it will set, compared to when it would for the same location if it were at sea level.

Does the sun rise at the same time in all time zones?

This means that, all other things being equal, the Sun rises at roughly the same time no matter which time zone you’re in. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. First of all, the many time zones don’t line up perfectly with the longitude lines, due to political and other complications.

How does the tilt of the Earth affect the sunrise/sunset?

Because the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees, as it journeys around the Sun, the locations of sunrise and sunset will shift. In the northern hemisphere, they will shift north in summer and south in winter. What are the biggest money secrets that rich people keep from us?

What factors affect sunrise and sunset times?

Variables That Affect Sunrise and Sunset Times Where You Live. That's because sunrise and sunset times depend on a number of variables, including longitude, latitude, altitude, and location in relationship to your specific Time Zone.

Why does the Sun rise in different places throughout the year?

Today, following pioneers such as Nicolas Copernicus, we can imagine this more easily, because we know it's not the sun that is moving but the Earth, which is rotating on its axis from west to east – that is, in the plane of the equator – producing the illusion that the sun rises and sets each day.

How does sunrise and sunset change from season to season?

It all comes down to the earth's axis. Earth's tilted axis means that as the earth revolves around the sun, the northern and southern hemispheres receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year. More direct sunlight leads to higher temperatures, resulting in summer for that part of the world.

Why are sunsets different in different places?

More atmosphere means more molecules to scatter the violet and blue light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of your line of sight. The other colors continue on their way to your eyes. This is why sunsets are often yellow, orange, and red.”

Why does the Sun set in different place in winter?

A similar circle which is separated from the first circle by 23.5 degrees at zenith towards south will mark the path of the Sun on winter solstice. Thus, the Sun will rise north of true East and set north of true West during summer whereas during winter, the Sun will rise south of true East and set south of true West.

How does the location of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year?

Each day the rising and setting points change slightly. At the summer solstice, the Sun rises as far to the northeast as it ever does, and sets as far to the northwest. Every day after that, the Sun rises a tiny bit further south. At the fall equinox, the Sun rises due east and sets due west.

How does the time of sunrise and sunset differ during summer and winter?

Answer. During the specific orientation of earth on its axis there is time difference in sunrise and sunset in summer and winter, In summer sun rises early and sunset late, while during winter season sunrise is late and sunset is early.

How do daylight hours change throughout the year?

Seasonal variations in where the Sun rises and sets and changes in the length of daylight hours throughout the year are caused by the constant tilt and orientation of the Earth's axis in relation to the plane of its orbit around the Sun (23.5 degrees from the vertical, the North Pole pointing towards the star Polaris ...

Why do the equinoxes and the directions of sunset occur?

The equinoxes and the directions of sunset show why. The equinoxes occur when the sun sets due west, and the days and nights are (virtually) of equal length everywhere on Earth. At the equator, however, the days and nights are always 12 hours ...

How old is the circle?

The circle’s age is unknown, but it could be as old as 11,000 years, and researchers – including former Monash academic Duane Hamacher – think it's likely that the circle includes deliberate markers of the direction of sunset at the solstices and equinoxes. We’ll never know just why, or even if, the builders of Wurdi Youang, Stonehenge, ...

What is the symmetry of the sunset direction?

Among many other things Ptolemy was interested in was the fact that the symmetry in the arc of sunset directions is reflected in the symmetry between the sun’s midday altitude at the summer and winter solstices. The sunset direction reaches its northerly and southerly extremes at the solstices, while the noon altitudes are also at their extremes ...

Where is the sun at the equinox?

At the equinoxes – when the direction of the sunset is halfway between the most northerly and southerly sunset points – the sun is at the point of intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator, as I mentioned. So the angle between these two intersecting planes must be half the difference between the summer and winter solstice solar ...

What direction does sunset go?

The sunset direction reaches its northerly and southerly extremes at the solstices, while the noon altitudes are also at their extremes (highest and lowest) at the solstices. The midpoints in both cases occur at the equinoxes.

Where is the Wurdi Youang stone circle?

The Wurdi Youang stone circle near Little River, Victoria. One of the earliest records of such an observation may lie in the alignment of the Wurdi Youang stone circle in Victoria, on land traditionally owned by the Wathaurong people.

How many days does the sun have to be on the equator?

So, in its yearly journey along the ecliptic, there are only two days when the sun crosses the equator.

Question

I just saw a chart detailing the official sunset/sunrise times in my locality (Tucson, AZ) for the month of January. I noticed that sunset times became later by 27 minutes from 1/1 through 1/31, whereas sunrise times became earlier by just 6 minutes over the same period of time. It struck me as odd that those two numbers would be different. Why?

Answer

This is due to two things. The Earth’s orbit around the Sun is elliptical, rather than circular, and the Earth’s axis of rotation is not perpendicular to the plane of the orbit. This non-circularity of the orbit and the tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation both contribute to the uneven changes in the times of sunrise and sunset.

Where does the sun rise?

The sun appears to rise on the eastern horizon and sets on the western horizon. How much does the location of the sun rising and setting change throughout the year and depending upon where your viewpoint is, i.e., true East, true West, etc. Irrespective of where you are on the globe, the Sun will always rise exactly East ...

Where does the Sun rise in summer?

Thus, the Sun will rise north of true East and set north of true West during summer whereas during winter, the Sun will rise south of true East and set south of true West. The exact location where the Sun will rise and set will vary widely depending on the place.

When does the Sun set West?

Irrespective of where you are on the globe, the Sun will always rise exactly East and set exactly West on two days: March 21 and September 21 which are the two equinoxes. As to the second part, it is a little complicated:

What is the path of the Sun from dawn to dusk?

This circle marks the path of the Sun from dawn to dusk on the two equinoxes. Now, draw a circle which is exactly parallel to the first circle, but which are separated from the first circle by 23.5 degrees at the zenith towards Polaris.

What are the sunrise and sunset times?

The sunrise and sunset times listed in the Farmers’ Almanac are for a specific geographic location: 1 40° N Latitude and 75° W Longitude for northern U.S. states 2 35° N Latitude and 90° W Longitude for southern U.S. states

What is the line that runs around the center of the globe called?

Latitude. Latitude lines are imaginary lines that encircle the globe horizontally. Latitude is a way of talking about how far north or south a location is in relationship to the Equator, the imaginary line that runs around the center of the globe. Unlike longitude lines, latitude lines never intersect.

What are the factors that determine sunrise and sunset times?

That’s because sunrise and sunset times depend on a number of variables, including longitude, latitude, altitude, and location in relationship to your specific Time Zone . Here’s a look at how each of these factors affects your area’s sunrise and sunset times.

Why are time zones created?

Time zones were created to acknowledge the fact that the Sun is not “up” at the same time everywhere around the globe. Because the Sun’s light moves across the Earth at a rate of 15° longitude per hour, people divided the Earth into 24 roughly equal sections of about 15° each, and assigned a one-hour time difference to each successive zone. This means that, all other things being equal, the Sun rises at roughly the same time no matter which time zone you’re in. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. First of all, the many time zones don’t line up perfectly with the longitude lines, due to political and other complications. In addition, not all of us live right at the easternmost edge of our respective time zones. The further west you live within your time zone, the later your sunrise will be. There is a simple, but somewhat inexact, way to figure this out. For every 70 miles you travel west within your time zone, sunrise will be about four minutes later. This time decreases somewhat the further you move from the Equator, though. That’s because of latitude …

How many minutes to subtract for each degree of longitude?

If your longitude is different from one of these standard meridians, you need to add four minutes to the times listed on the Calendar Page for each degree of longitude that you are west of your time zone meridian. Or subtract four minutes for each degree you are east of it.

Why don't time zones line up with longitude?

First of all, the many time zones don’t line up perfectly with the longitude lines, due to political and other complications. In addition, not all of us live right at the easternmost edge of our respective time zones. The further west you live within your time zone, the later your sunrise will be.

How long does the sun stay down in Alaska?

Of course, all of this pales in comparison to Barrow, Alaska, where the Sun stays down from November 20 until January 22, and stays up from May 12 until August 1 each year! A bit further south in Anchorage, mid-winter days are only five and a half hours long.