Here’s a natural phenomenon you might never have imagined. That is, the sun actually sets more slowly around the time of a solstice. The slowest sunsets (and sunrises) occur at or near the solstices. The fastest sunsets (and sunrises) occur at or near the equinoxes. This is true whether you live in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. And, by the way, when we say sunset here, we’re talking about the actual number of minutes it takes for the body of the sun to sink below the western horizon. Follow the links below to learn more:
When is the solstice?
Why does the sun set so slowly around the solstices?
When is the solstice? In 2017, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice (Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice) will fall on June 21 at 4:24 UTC.
In the United States, that translates to June 21 at 12:24 a.m Eastern Time - and on June 20 at 11:24 p.m. Central Time, 10:24 p.m. Mountain Time and 9:24 p.m. Pacific Time.
Why does the sun set so slowly around the solstice? At the June (or December) solstice, the sun rises and sets farthest north (or south) of due east and due west. The farther the sun sets from due west along the horizon, the shallower the angle of the setting sun. That means a longer duration for sunset at the solstices... Read more
When is the solstice?
Why does the sun set so slowly around the solstices?
When is the solstice? In 2017, the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice (Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice) will fall on June 21 at 4:24 UTC.
In the United States, that translates to June 21 at 12:24 a.m Eastern Time - and on June 20 at 11:24 p.m. Central Time, 10:24 p.m. Mountain Time and 9:24 p.m. Pacific Time.
Why does the sun set so slowly around the solstice? At the June (or December) solstice, the sun rises and sets farthest north (or south) of due east and due west. The farther the sun sets from due west along the horizon, the shallower the angle of the setting sun. That means a longer duration for sunset at the solstices... Read more