Introduction to Late Sunrise and Early Sunset
The winter solstice will occur at 10:03 a.m. ET on Dec. 21 this year, and even though the day of the winter solstice is the shortest of the year, the latest sunrise and earliest sunset do not occur on this day.
What You Need To Know
The solar day impacts sunrises and sunsets
A solar day is longer near the winter solstice
The sun rises later in the winter and sets later
Understanding a Solar Day
Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The time from one solar noon to the next solar noon is called a solar day.
The length of a solar day changes throughout the year because of the tilt and position of the Earth. Because of this, a solar day can be more than or less than 24 hours depending on the time of the year.
The problem is that we count our days as exactly 24 hours. So, with the solar day being more than 24 hours near the winter solstice, this means solar noon will occur at a later time each day. The sun will also rise later and set later.
If the sun is setting later each day before the solstice, that means the earliest sunset has already happened.
Since the sun also rises later each day, this means the latest sunrise has yet to occur. The latest sunrise will happen a few weeks after the official start of winter.
Impact on Daily Life
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the latest sunrise and earliest sunset do not occur on the day of the winter solstice. The solar day, which is the time from one solar noon to the next, changes throughout the year due to the Earth’s tilt and position. This results in the sun rising later and setting later near the winter solstice. Understanding the concept of a solar day helps us appreciate the complexities of our planet’s movement and its impact on our daily lives.
FAQs
Q: What is a solar day?
A: A solar day is the time from one solar noon to the next solar noon.
Q: Why does the length of a solar day change throughout the year?
A: The length of a solar day changes due to the tilt and position of the Earth.
Q: When does the latest sunrise occur?
A: The latest sunrise occurs a few weeks after the official start of winter.
Q: When does the earliest sunset occur?
A: The earliest sunset occurs before the winter solstice.
