Explain why it takes until 1/12 for the sun to rise earlier daily but it sets later after the winter solastice

Question

I note that the sunset gets later immediately after the winter solastice, but it takes almost to the middle of January for the sun to rise earlier each day.

Answer 1

Here's a website that explains it all in lots of detail:
http://www.analemma.com/Pages/framesPage.html

Answer 2

Quite observant there, Bennett. There is an astronomical term called "equation of time" which basically refers to changes in the time of solar noon for a given location over the course of a year. After Dec 21, the lengths of the days actually don't increase that fast, but the solar noon moves forward roughly 30 seconds each day. Play around with the following Web site to get a feel for this:

http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html

As for why it happens, it's due to Earth's elliptical orbit and "Kepler's law of equal areas in equal times".

Answer 3

I think it is because the Earth's orbit is elliptical, with Earth orbiting faster in winter when it is closer to the Sun (yes, Earth is closer to the Sun in December than it is in June). Since its daily rotation does not change during the year, sometimes it lags a little and sometimes it leads a little.

Answer 4

Daylight Savings Time? Air temp?