where exactly sun's set? north,east,west,or south?

Answer 1

The Sun doesn't always set exactly to the West, despite popular misconception. At my location (approximately 35 degrees north latitude), the direction of sunset various by approximately 62 degrees in six month's time!

At the Winter Solstice (around Dec 21), the Sun will set as far to the southwest as it will set all year. About 31 degrees south of true West.

At the Summer Solstice (around June 21), the Sun will set as far to the northwest as it will set all year. About 31 degrees north of true West.

Take your compass, and assume that 270 is exactly West. (In reality, you'll be a bit off because Earth's magnetism doesn't point exactly north, but you'll be close enough). At my location, the Sun sets at 301 degrees around June 21, and sets around 239 degrees around December 21.

You can use your fist to see just how much of a difference this is. Hold your fist out at arm's length. Your fist is covering about 10 degrees. Because our bodies are proportional to our size, this is true for almost anyone. You can test it by using your fists to measure from the horizon to the zenith (straight up). This is 1/4 of a circle, so it should measure 90 degrees, or nine fists. Try it. I'd bet it's close!

You can also estimate 62 degrees by figuring that it is 1/3 of 180 degrees. Face exactly West (using a compass will get you close enough) and stick your arms straight out from your sides. You are pointing North with your right hand, and south with your left hand. Because your arms make a straight line, this is 180 degrees. 90 degrees is what you would have if you left your left arm where it is, and pointed your right arm directly west. 60 degrees is 2/3 of 90, or 1/3 of 180.

Quite a bit of change in sunset location in six month's time, isn't there? The same basic thing happens with sunrise also.

And, the angular distance (that 31 or 62 degrees) varies with location on Earth. Think about the difference for someone living on the Arctic Circle!

By the way, Solstice means "Sun standing still". Because the Sun's apparent motion along the horizon (when you compare sunsets every single day for a year) is similar to the motion of a ball that you throw into the air. It travels quickly as it leaves your hand, then it slows down and "stops" for a fraction of a second at the top of it's arc, then it starts slow and speeds up as it falls back down to your hand. Same thing with the location of sunsets.

It is moving fast around the time of the Equinoxes., meaning that you can watch where it sets each day and you will see a noticeable difference in location along the horizon. It seems to stand still for a week or so around the solstices. Meaning that it sets in about the same place for a week before starting to move back in the other direction. (After the Summer Solstice, the Sun will start to set further and further south each day. After the Winter Solstice, the Sun will start to set further and further north each day).

Now you know what is meant when you hear about ancient peoples (or primitive cultures in fairly modern times) talking about the sun standing still...

Answer 2

South South-west

Answer 3

Sun Sets In The West

Answer 4

A good question!

Many people know that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but does it rise EXACTLY east and set EXACTLY west every day?

We also know that the days are longer in the summer and shorter in the winter, but have you ever thought about how the Sun's path through the sky is changing to create these differences?

Answer 5

West

Answer 6

Sun set is defined as the instant in the evening under ideal meteorological conditions, with standard refraction of the sun's rays, when the upper edge of the sun's disk is coincident with an ideal horizon. Depending on season it varies around true west.

Answer 7

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, that is why Japan is known as the Land of the Rising Sun.

Answer 8

I would say in the Los Angeles area, I used to go fishing off the point of Long Beach buy the Queen Mary and watch the sun set in the summer time, winter am not so sure.

Answer 9

west

Answer 10

West,of course it's west.You should know that.