which is due west, where the sun sets at the equinox or the solstice?

Question

please settle an argument for me.

where the sun sets varies, depending on the time of year.

it makes more sense to me that due west is where it sets at the equinoxes.

am i right?

Answer 1

Sheesh, 4 answers and all of them wrong...well, technically, numbers 2 and 4 don't answer your question at all. (Welcome to the internet!) Your answer is correct. No matter where you are on the planet, with the exception of exactly at the poles, the sun sets due west on the equinoxes.

Here's the quote from Wikipedia: "On the equinox day, the Sun rises in the morning, for every place on Earth (except at the poles), exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west in the evening."

Answer 2

Nope, Due west is half way from North to South on the right hand side if looking North.

You can use the sun to find North, but as you point out it moves for setting and rising, so you can't use that. It moves during the year because the earth "wobbles" on it's axis which is at about 23 degrees from the sun.

To find North using the sun, place a vertical post in the garden at point P. At some time before noon mark the shade end on the ground. This is the point A. Using a cord draw an arc centered at the post with the radius PA. Then patiently wait till in the afternoon time the shade length reaches the length of PA again and mark the point B on the arc where the shade touches the arc. The bisection of the angle APB gives the direction of the North.

Next (to get west) mark out a right angle from the North South line, the line on the right when looking from the pole is west.

Answer 3

No, unless you are standing on the equator. The sun will set due west for you when the sun is directly overhead (at your latitude). It will do this while going towards the solstice and when it is coming back (subjectively, since the sun is not moving, the earth is, in this context) towards the equinox.

Answer 4

If you are on the Tropic of Cancer(runs through Florida) on the spring or fall equinox, then the sun sets in true West. Otherwise , your position will determine true west.

Answer 5

You are correct to a point.
However where you are on the equator makes a difference if you are talking magnetic north or true north.
The magnetic north moves so the magnetic west is different in depending on your longitude.

Answer 6

equinox - plus the sun is so far away, it don't really matter if you are exactly on the equator.

Answer 7

You are correct only if you are standing on the Equator.

Answer 8

Equinox.

You don't have to be at the equator.