Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Dec. 10 6:57 4:11

Sat., Dec. 11 6:58 4:11

Sun., Dec. 12 6:59 4:11

Mon., Dec. 13 6:59 4:11

Tues., Dec. 14 7:00 4:11

Wed., Dec. 15 7:01 4:12

Thurs., Dec. 16 7:02 4:12

Fri., Dec. 17 7:02 4:12

The first quarter moon appears near the bright planet Jupiter this weekend. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Pisces.

For most of this week, sunset is at 4:11 in the afternoon. This is one of those rare times in the year when sunset occurs at the same time for several days. In June sunrise is at 5:06 a.m. for 11 days.

The reason for this phenomenon is earth’s relationship with the sun and our latitude.

Throughout the year, the sun’s movement along the ecliptic, also known as the zodiac, changes daily. Changing sunrise and sunset times are far more dramatic here at 42 degrees latitude than near the equator. The change is even more extreme at higher latitudes, say for example in Alaska, where there are endless nights in the winter and endless days in the summer.

The noontime summer sun is high in our sky, while the noontime winter sun appears low.

When the sun is at the extreme points in the ecliptic, around the first day of winter and the first day of summer, sunrise and sunset are stuck in the same place for a couple of days.

In the fall and autumn, sunrise and sunset times can change by as much as three minutes a day.

M.A.L.