Does the sun always rise exactly in the east and set in the west?
Check out this answer from Consensus:
The sun does not always rise exactly in the east and set in the west. While the general east-west movement is consistent due to Earth’s rotation, the exact positions of sunrise and sunset vary throughout the year because of the Earth’s axial tilt and orbital dynamics. Additionally, observational errors can lead to misconceptions about the sun’s position.
The question of whether the sun always rises exactly in the east and sets in the west is a common one, often influenced by our daily observations and cultural references. This analysis synthesizes findings from multiple research papers to provide a clear understanding of this phenomenon.
Key Insights
- General East-West Movement: The sun generally rises in the east and sets in the west due to the Earth’s rotation. This is a consistent observation for all celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, planets, asteroids, and comets1.
- Seasonal Variation: The exact position of the sunrise and sunset changes throughout the year. This variation is due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its orbit around the sun. As a result, the sun does not rise exactly in the east or set exactly in the west every day2.
- Misidentification and Observational Errors: Misunderstandings can occur due to observational errors or misidentification of directions. For instance, a viral video claimed the sun rose from the north, but further analysis showed it actually rose from the east-northeast, highlighting the importance of accurate directional identification2.