The sun is the source of life for our planet. The heavenly body caresses us with its warmth, illuminates us during the day and gives joy to everything that exists on Earth. Another important function: orientation assistance. Thanks to the sun, we can determine the cardinal directions and choose the right direction.

Sunny way

Every morning the gentle sun calls us to awakening and new discoveries in this wonderful world. And in the evening, making its slow move across the sky, it goes beyond the horizon, giving you the opportunity to relax after a busy day of work. Where does this journey begin? Where does the sun set at the end of the journey?

The rise of the main luminary begins in the east. The sun leaves us at the end of the day in the west. After this, it continues its journey, but on the other side of our amazing planet. And in the morning it rises again in the east. This is how the picture described appears to us from Earth. Interestingly, ancient people considered this point of view to be incorrect. In this case, where does the sun actually set, and how does it appear again in the sky?

If you do not delve into the details of the worldview of the inhabitants of antiquity, then we can say that they were right. The fact is that our planet is part of the solar system, where the Sun is motionless and located in the center. The Earth moves around it in its orbit and, in addition to this movement, rotates around its imaginary axis. The planet makes a full revolution in 24 hours, in other words - in a day. That is why it seems to us that the places where the sun sets and where it returns in the morning are unchanged.

View from space

If it were possible to look at the solar system far from space (so as to see absolutely all the planets), then the picture would be as follows: all the celestial bodies of this system rotate in the same direction from west to east (counterclockwise). In fact, Venus rotates around its axis in the direction opposite to the rotation of other planets. There are assumptions by astronomers that many years ago a very powerful asteroid hit it and disrupted the direction of rotation with its impact. Uranus, too, under the influence of similar forces, seemed to be overturned. Now, watching him, you see the picture of rotation as if from the side.

North Pole and other parts of the world

If a person could study the movement of the main luminary from the North Pole, he would see the rotation of the Earth counterclockwise, as well as the place where the sun sets and how it rises. Visually, the movement of the celestial body will appear as a move from east to west. In fact, it will move east, and the Earth will rotate around its axis.

Interestingly, in different parts of the world the sun does not rise at the same time. For example, on the East Coast of the United States this occurs another 3 hours before those areas that are on the Western coast. Accordingly, sunset in different parts of the world occurs at different times.

Twilight

The immediate period of time before sunrise and before sunset is twilight. This is a particularly beautiful sight. The disk of the celestial body is located very close to the horizon, some of the rays enter the upper atmospheric layers and are reflected on the surface of the Earth. The duration of such a colorful spectacle lasts about 2 hours. But this is only in temperate latitudes. In the polar zones, twilight lasts several hours before sunset. Directly at the poles, this period takes from 2 to 3 weeks! At the same time, at the equator, before sunrise, twilight lasts only 20-25 minutes.

At this time, thanks to the optical effect, we see a stunning picture when the rays of the sun illuminate the surface of the Earth and the sky in multi-colored tones.

Orientation: how to determine the cardinal directions without a compass on the ground?

If you have a wristwatch with hands (not electronic), then in the “horizontal” position you need to turn it clockwise towards the sun. Drawing an imaginary bisector between the number 12 and the direction to the celestial body, we obtain a “north-south” line. It is also interesting that until noon, the south is to the right of the sun.

Understanding how to determine the cardinal directions without a compass, a person will be able to navigate anywhere and go in the right direction. This knowledge is very important, especially for tourists, forestry workers, hunters, sailors and people engaged in other activities.

The method described above can give relatively accurate results in northern latitudes. In temperate climates it works only partly (especially in winter). In the southern regions, the summer sun is high, so errors may occur. In addition, you need to take into account the transition to and from daylight saving time (as this affects the definition of noon).

It is also important to remember where the sun rises and where it sets in mid-latitudes. In these places, the main luminary rises in the summer in the northeast, and sets in the northwest. 3rd - in the southeast and southwest, respectively. Only 2 times a year the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. These are the days of the equinoxes - March 21 and September 23.

Shadow and navigation

There is another way to navigate by shadow. In unfamiliar places, when this need arises, you need to take into account different heavenly bodies. At night it can be the polar star, and during the day it can be the sun.

Understanding which side the sun sets from, you can determine other directions of the world and choose the right direction of travel. For example, in northern latitudes, when the time of summer nights comes, the setting sun is close to the horizon. Therefore, the sky on the north side is lighter than on the south.

It is known that the highest solar position can be determined by the shortest shadow. This corresponds to noon. The direction of such a shadow points to the north. It’s the same with the moon: if it’s full and occupies the highest position above the horizon, it means it’s in the south. This is the time when there is enough light to clearly distinguish shadows. Likewise, during a full moon, the shadow is the shortest. It's midnight. The direction of the shadow will point to the north.

Since childhood, we have become accustomed to the fact that in the morning the Sun rises in the east and in the evening sets in the west. But is this really so?

Sunrise at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

You probably know that rooms with windows facing south are usually very sunny. Why? The fact is that when the Sun rises highest above the horizon (culminates, if we speak scientific language), it appears precisely above the southern part of the horizon. This means that on any day, if the Sun appears above the horizon, it will definitely pass over the south point, and at that moment it will culminate.

You, of course, have noticed that the length of daylight hours varies greatly throughout the year: in winter the days are shorter and in summer they are longer. Does the Sun really move slower across the sky in summer than in winter? Of course not! It’s just that the point of sunrise and sunset changes every day.

A dog of the Labrador breed, sitting on the shore of the Labrador Peninsula, looks at the sunset in the Labrador sea

In fact, the Sun rises exactly in the east only twice a year, on the days of the spring (20th or 21st March) and autumn (22nd or 23rd September) equinoxes. On these same days it sets exactly in the west, and the length of the day is equal to half a day - twelve hours. After the spring equinox, the day begins to lengthen, the Sun climbs higher and higher in the sky, and the sunrise and sunset points shift to the north (be sure to look at the picture, otherwise you won’t understand anything). This continues until the summer solstice - June 21 (22). On this day, in temperate latitudes, the points of sunrise and sunset are most shifted to the north, and the length of the day is greatest.

The figure shows how the position of the sunrise and sunset points changes throughout the year.

Beyond the Arctic Circle (Murmansk, Norilsk, Vorkuta, Norwegian Tromso), the sunrise and sunset points gradually move closer together, and at some point they merge into one at the north point. After this, the Sun stops setting below the horizon: polar day begins.

After the summer solstice, the sunrise and sunset points begin to move back, east and west, and the length of the day gradually decreases. After the autumnal equinox (on this day the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west for the second time a year), the sunrise and sunset points again begin to approach each other, but in the southern part of the horizon, and the length of the day decreases (see picture!). This happens until the winter solstice. On this day the sun rises and sets most south, the day is the shortest of the year, and the night is the longest.
At those latitudes where there was a polar day, a polar night will begin: the Sun will not appear above the horizon. This will happen when the place of sunrise and sunset merge at the south point. After the winter solstice, the day begins to lengthen, the points of sunrise and sunset gradually move back to the points of east and west, and everything repeats again.

Polar day in Severomorsk, pay attention to the clock in the lower right corner

What is happening in the southern hemisphere? In the southern hemisphere, everything is the other way around: when our day length is greatest, it is shortest there; when we have the spring equinox, in the southern hemisphere it is the autumn equinox. In the southern hemisphere, the Sun culminates above the north point, but rises and sets, like ours, in the eastern and western parts of the sky, respectively.

So if they tell you that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west, you can safely answer that this is not true.

The sun is a celestial object that can be seen from anywhere on the planet. The development and preservation of living nature on earth depends on it, since it is what gives heat. Every morning it lights up the sky and many are interested in the question, where does the sun rise?

Where does the sun come from?

The appearance of the sun begins in the east, and gradually moves across the sky, it sets on the opposite side in the west. In ancient times, people believed that the Earth was the center of the universe, and that all heavenly bodies revolve around it. However, this point of view has long ceased to be scientific and has been successfully refuted.

The Sun is a star and motionless, while the Earth, moving in its orbit, revolves around it. But, nevertheless, this state of affairs creates the effect that we observe every morning - the sunrise begins in the east and ends in the west.

Why do people track the movement of the sun?

With the emergence of the need to measure time, people began to look for objects that would help them with this. A long time ago, it was believed that it was possible to find out how much time had passed only by the movement of the sun or moon (at night). Why are people so attracted to this celestial object and why is it so important for some to track its movement?

• The sunrise heralds the beginning of daylight, and its sunset the end.
• The biological clocks and rhythms of many living organisms on the planet are oriented towards it.
• For some, this is important to know when drawing up astrological charts and horoscopes.
• These indicators are also used by astronomers for various purposes.
• Changing the position of the sun in the sky allowed ancient people to create the first timekeeping system. The first stone sundial was even invented for this purpose.
• Counting days and months is also based on the position of the sun, including the modern Gregorian calendar. Where a day is measured from one sunrise to the next, and a year is equal to a full circle around a star.

From this we can conclude that the relevance of tracking the position of the earth relative to the sun does not lose its relevance today. In addition, scientists monitor its indicators, measure activity, predict magnetic storms, etc.

What benefits does the sun have for humans?

The benefits of the sun in the life of mankind cannot be underestimated. However, scientists continue to study its effect on the body. A group of scientists from Edinburgh found that if a person spends some time in the sun, the following processes are observed in his body:

• Blood pressure decreases.
• The risk of developing thrombosis is reduced.
• The body rejuvenates.
• Metabolism improves.
• The risk of stroke is reduced.
• Blood circulation improves.

In addition, the sun is an excellent preventive measure against the formation of a heart attack, the development of cancer or other pathologies. In addition, the sun produces vitamin D, which is so beneficial for everyone, it strengthens bone tissue and removes heavy metals from the body.

You can highlight the benefits of the sun:

• Promotes the production of serotonin, a hormone responsible for blood clotting. In addition, a sufficient amount of this substance improves mood, which is why it is also called the “happiness hormone.”
• Under the sun, biologically inert nitrite NO3 is released, which helps reduce blood pressure and eliminate the likelihood of developing heart failure or a heart attack.
• The sun's rays have an antibacterial effect, therefore, basking in the sun, wounds and scratches will heal faster, acne and pimples will disappear.

But this, of course, is not the entire list of beneficial properties that the sun's rays have. In addition, we should not forget about the general benefits of the sun for all life on the planet.

You shouldn’t think that the sun’s rays are so useful that you need to be exposed to them uncontrollably. In addition to a lot of benefits, they can cause just as much harm if you are careless with them.

• With prolonged exposure, a tan appears - this is a protective mechanism of the body that tries to cope with the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. If you do not take action and protect the skin at the first redness, you can easily get a serious burn. In some people, it even leads to the formation of skin cancer.
• You should not look at the sun without sunglasses, as its strong brightness can blind or damage your vision.
• For those who suffer from dry skin, it is contraindicated to stay in the sun for a long time without moisturizer, as the rays can dry it out even more.
• If you do not protect your head with a panama hat or cap, you can get sunstroke or heatstroke. Its manifestations are: fever, increased heart rate, nausea. Sometimes people lose consciousness and even die if immediate help is not provided and the person is not taken to a cool, dark room, applying ice compresses.

Therefore, it is imperative that when you are in direct sunlight, you should take precautions and protect your head with a light-colored hat, drink more fluids, and wear glasses. Also try to avoid being outside when the sun is at its zenith.

The sun is a celestial body that gives warmth and light to all living things on the planet, rising in the east. But in addition to benefits, it can also cause harm, and this should not be forgotten.

Every person knows that the sun is a star around which the Earth and other planets revolve. Probably everyone has heard that this celestial body appears in the East and disappears in the West. But not everyone knows where the sun sets and why exactly there. Further in the article we will try to consider the question of the place of appearance and disappearance of the celestial body.

How the sun moves

After the celestial body appears on the horizon, its movement continues continuously. Throughout the day you can watch the sun move across the sky. In fact, it is not the sun that moves, but the globe making a revolution around the star. Moreover, the duration of the entire process is 24 hours.

We can easily explain why a room in an apartment with windows facing south is always significantly lighter compared to similar rooms with access to other sides of the world. The thing is that during the day the sun moves along the projection of the southern horizon and ultimately reaches its peak point. This whole process in scientific terminology is called the culmination of a celestial body.

It is a well-known fact that the length of the day in winter differs significantly from the summer season. During the hot season, daylight hours seem much longer than in winter. Oddly enough, it is quite easy to explain the phenomenon. The length of daylight hours directly depends on the sun. People who do not know this information may assume that the length of the day is affected by the speed of movement of the celestial body. But this is completely misleading. In fact, the length of the day depends on the rising and setting point of the star. It is not difficult to guess that it is always different during the calendar year.

The sun sets in the West only twice a year. These dates are considered to be March 20 and 21, as well as September 22 and 23. They are also called equinox days. Just then, the sun sets exactly in the West. The length of the day is twelve hours. Perhaps these dates are the only ones when the sun actually sets in the Western part of the horizon.

After the spring equinox passes, the sun begins to move higher in the sky, which is why the days begin to get longer. Accordingly, the sunset and sunrise points are moving closer to the north every day. This entire process lasts until June 21. The solstice occurs on this day. It is then that the point of entry is most shifted to the north, and the length of the day is longer.

In cities located above the Arctic Circle, the sunset and sunrise points merge into one, which ensures that the celestial body does not leave the horizon and the polar day begins.

After June 22, the sunset point begins to gradually shift to the western and eastern parts. The same thing happens with the sunrise point. Due to this, the length of the day is shortened. After September 23, the point where the sun rises begins to move closer to the point of its sunset, this happens south of the horizon. All this lasts until the winter solstice. It was then that the celestial body appears and disappears to the south of all previous days, and that is precisely why this night is the longest during this period.

An interesting fact is that it is on these days that the polar day gives way to polar night. The celestial body does not appear beyond the horizon. This phenomenon is connected, first of all, with the fact that the points where the Sun sets and where it rises converge in the south. As the winter solstice passes, things gradually begin to change. The sunset and sunrise points begin to move in the opposite direction, because of this you can observe a lengthening of the daylight hours.

Features of daylight hours in the southern hemisphere

As a rule, in the southern hemisphere of the globe everything happens the other way around. At the moment when the northern hemisphere experiences a long day of the year, the opposite one experiences short daylight hours. This contrast of phenomena is accompanied in everything. When we experience the autumn equinox, it is the spring equinox in the southern hemisphere. The culmination of the sun also occurs at the opposite point: in the north. But just like us The sun sets directly in the western sky.

People have always been interested in the Sun and its location in the sky. There are interesting facts that show how interesting and mysterious this star is.

• As the sun sets, the air temperature gradually drops and it becomes cold. But the surprising thing is that at night the temperature does not drop to its maximum. The coldest period is considered to be the morning, just before sunrise.
• All over the globe, people watch the sun set every day. But at the poles this phenomenon can only be observed once a year.
• In ancient times, people used the sun to tell time. Sometimes the setting of a celestial body served as a sign of the time of day. Everything was determined with the help of shadows cast by special objects. Thus, the first clocks and even calendars were built.
• Using a camera, you can track the path of the sun over a day. To do this, it will be enough to take pictures from one point on the Earth at regular intervals. The same movement can be tracked by days and months.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the sun is a star that gives us warmth and light every day. It is impossible to say exactly where the heavenly body sets. The sunset point shifts every day depending on the time of year.

Video

The sunrise and sunset are truly a majestic picture. In all its beauty, it unfolds in open space - outside the city, in the field and especially at sea. That part of the horizon where the sun rises and sets is painted in crimson colors, as if an invisible artist touches the sky with a magic brush.

How does the sun rise?

Early in the morning, the horizon in the east begins to slowly turn red - this is the morning dawn. The night gives way to day, gradually brightens, and the dawn fills the lower edge of the sky with more and more fiery light.

Then, from behind the part of the horizon where the sun rises, the upper edge of its disk slowly appears. As it rises, it increases in size until it completely appears before the awakening earth in its royal radiance. At this moment, one gets the impression that it hovers like a huge thing above its surface. But this doesn't last long. The sun, moving from left to right, begins to rise above the horizon. Its color changes from red to orange and then to yellow. The size of the luminary decreases, reaching its highest point above the horizon, it looks like a small light yellow ball.

How does the sun go down?

Having reached the highest point of its location, the sun begins its journey downward, without changing the direction of movement. The lower it falls, the closer to evening the more clearly the picture of its morning ascent is repeated in the sky. The part of the horizon where the sun sets turns red-fiery, and the disk itself becomes larger. And now the evening dawn is blazing like a frantic fire at the edge of the sky, illuminating it until the luminary disappears beyond the horizon. This spectacle is mesmerizing and very beautiful. It inspires artists to paint and romantics to seek adventure.

If you ask where the sun sets, everyone will answer - in the west, because, having risen in the east, it makes a circle across the sky, sets again and continues to move along the other side of the earth. In reality, it is motionless, and it is our Earth that revolves around it in orbit.

Why does the sky change color at sunrise and sunset?

As you know, the Earth is surrounded by an air shell - an atmosphere that extends upward for about 1000 km. In the lower layers it has greater density. The higher you are from the Earth's surface, the smaller this indicator becomes, and the thinner the atmosphere.

Scientists have determined: the thicker the layer of the air shell, the fewer rays it transmits through itself, and this relates mainly to blue and green radiation, which cannot be said about red, orange and yellow rays.

Because the place where the sun sets and rises is located in the lower part of its disk and looks red-purple during this period. Rising then into more rarefied layers, the Sun changes color, becoming lighter and yellower.

What happens at the poles?

The North and South Poles are considered unique places on our Earth. Daily illumination here is divided into (178 days) and polar night (187 days). Regarding the poles, it is more appropriate to ask not “where the sun sets”, but “how this phenomenon occurs.”

It turns out that they only have sunrise and sunset once a year. At the South Pole, the sun rises in September on a day and sets in March on a day. But all these phenomena happen the other way around. This is the part of the world where the sun rises and sets in March and September.

How does the sun work?

Our planet Earth is insignificant in size in relation to the Sun. Every day we bask in its rays and watch sunrises and sunsets, but what do we know about this majestic star?

Having figured out how the sun rises and where it sets, let's look at what it consists of.

This is a clot of hot gas in the form of a huge ball, inside of which plasma consisting of various gases is constantly moving. These are mainly hydrogen and helium.

Conventionally, scientists divide the structure of the Sun into 4 parts:

• the core (central part), where the nuclear reaction occurs, namely: hydrogen, burning, turns into helium;
• radiant zone, in which gases move moderately, transferring energy from layer to layer outward;
• convective zone consisting of fast moving gases;
• a region of the atmosphere that extends far beyond the visible part of the star, and during a solar eclipse is visible as a pearl halo - the corona.

Everything in our life is passing away, but the daily sunrise remains unchanged, moving along its heavenly route for many billions of years.

In this article we have revealed many facts about where the sun rises and sets. We hope you found this information useful and interesting.