Where the sun rises earliest. Where the sun rises. Where the sun rises

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 can 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.

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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 prevention of heart attack, 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 NO3 nitrite 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 cannot 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: increased temperature, 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.

As most modern people know, there are four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. They are widely used in geography and many other sciences for spatial orientation. And the east, as you know, is the side from which each of our days begins, because it is in the east that the Sun rises - our natural luminary and the center of our solar system.

But do you know why the Sun always rises in the East? We invite you to read the text of this information article, in which we will try to give a clear and accessible answer to this question.

Does the Sun rise in the east?

To begin with, in order for the explanation of this natural phenomenon to be truly understandable, it is worthwhile to figure out whether the Sun really rises in the east. And we are not talking about which side of the world it rises from, but about whether the Sun rises in the morning.

It should be noted that the Sun is the center of our universe and all the planets revolve around it. The star itself remains motionless. Accordingly, it is not able to get up and sit down; these are just names and metaphors we are familiar with. So what's going on? Let's figure it out.

The essence of the answer to this question lies in the fact that our Earth, as is known, rotates around its own axis. In addition, it also moves along the orbit of our natural star, making one revolution per year. It is important to know that the Earth rotates on its axis in a counterclockwise direction, and this is a key aspect in the question of why the Sun rises in the east.

It is interesting that the Sun, remaining motionless, always illuminates one of the hemispheres of our planet. And, due to the fact that rotation around its axis occurs counterclockwise for earthlings, the physics and trajectory of the Earth’s movement is such that the last areas of the Earth’s surface that can observe sunlight during the day are in the west, gradually moving away along with the turns of the Earth . At the moment when night falls for one hemisphere, the second begins to turn towards the Sun, and its light illuminates primarily the eastern part of the planet, since it is the one along the trajectory of movement that first reaches the point of intersection with the sun's rays.

This is how complex and at the same time simple the physics of the movement of our planet is, which affects many factors and things that have become absolutely familiar to us, but are not fully understood.

Where the sun rises? This question interests many people who want to know how the heavenly body moves.

In this article we will try to explain as simply as possible where the sun rises and sets, and also to understand what role it plays in the life of our planet.

Where does the sun come from?

Why do people track the movement of the sun?

Even in ancient times, by observing the movement of the sun and moon, people could carry out a time count. Thanks to this, peoples developed solar or lunar calendars that helped them keep track of the passage of time.

Here are just a few factors that are affected by the movement of the sun:

  • sunrise and sunset allows you to determine the length of the day;
  • The biological clocks and rhythms of many living creatures on Earth are oriented towards the luminary;
  • it plays an important role in astronomical calculations;
  • By observing where the sun rises and how it behaves throughout the day, ancient people were able to create stone sundials;
  • the calculation of days and months is also based on the position of the sun. A day is measured from one sunrise to the next, and a year is calculated by a complete revolution around the star.

Consequently, observing the position of the Earth relative to the Sun does not lose its significance today. In addition, scientists regularly monitor the Sun's performance, measuring its activity, the presence of magnetic storms, etc.

Benefits of the Sun for humans

Did you know that the Sun has a huge impact on the physical condition of people? Experts have been able to prove that when exposed to sunlight, a person experiences the following changes in his body:

  • blood pressure decreases;
  • the risk of thrombosis is reduced;
  • rejuvenation occurs;
  • metabolism improves;
  • the risk of stroke and heart attack is reduced;
  • blood circulation improves.

In addition, when the sun rises, a person is recommended to take sunbathing. Thanks to this, our body produces vital vitamin D, which strengthens bone tissue and removes heavy metals from the body.

  • The sun promotes the production of serotonin, which is necessary for blood clotting. This hormone is also called the “happy hormone” because it promotes a good mood.
  • Under the sun, biologically inert NO3 nitrite is released, which lowers blood pressure and inhibits the development of heart failure.
  • Interestingly, sunlight has an antibacterial effect, causing any cuts to heal much faster. In addition, being under the sun can quickly get rid of pimples and acne.

The sun can be harmful

Now we should consider the other side of the Sun medal. It would be wrong to think that long exposure to its rays will have a beneficial effect on the body.

Here are just a few factors that can lead to negative consequences after prolonged exposure to the sun:

  • Tanning is the body's defense mechanism against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. If you do not protect your skin at the first redness, you can get a slight burn. In rare cases, this can lead to skin cancer.
  • You should not look at the sun without sunglasses, otherwise you may damage the retina of your eye, which will lead to loss of vision in the future.
  • People with dry skin are not recommended to stay in the sun for a long time without moisturizing cream.
  • As soon as the sun has risen, you must use a hat. Otherwise, you may get sunstroke. Its signs are fever, rapid pulse and nausea. There have been many cases of people losing consciousness and even dying from heatstroke.

From all that has been said, it follows that when staying under the sun for a long time, you need to wear a hat, drink more water and use glasses. Remember that the sun is especially dangerous when it is at its zenith.

If our planet did not revolve around the Sun and was absolutely flat, the celestial body would always be at the zenith and would not move anywhere - there would be no sunset, no dawn, no life. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to watch the sun rise and set - and therefore life on planet Earth continues.

The Earth tirelessly moves around the Sun and its axis, and once a day (with the exception of polar latitudes) the solar disk appears and disappears beyond the horizon, indicating the beginning and end of daylight hours. Therefore, in astronomy, sunrise and sunset are the times when the top point of the solar disk appears or disappears above the horizon.

In turn, the period before sunrise or sunset is called twilight: the solar disk is located close to the horizon, and therefore some of the rays, entering the upper layers of the atmosphere, are reflected from it onto the earth's surface. The duration of twilight before sunrise or sunset directly depends on latitude: at the poles they last from 2 to 3 weeks, in the polar zones - several hours, in temperate latitudes - about two hours. But at the equator, the time before sunrise is from 20 to 25 minutes.

During sunrise and sunset, a certain optical effect is created when the sun's rays illuminate the earth's surface and sky, coloring them in multi-colored tones. Before sunrise, at dawn, the colors have more delicate shades, while sunset illuminates the planet with rays of rich red, burgundy, yellow, orange and very rarely green.

The sunset has such an intensity of colors due to the fact that during the day the earth's surface warms up, humidity decreases, the speed of air flows increases, and dust rises into the air. The difference in color between sunrise and sunset largely depends on the area where a person is located and observes these amazing natural phenomena.

External characteristics of a wondrous natural phenomenon

Since the sunrise and sunset can be spoken of as two identical phenomena that differ from each other in the saturation of colors, the description of the sun setting over the horizon can also be applied to the time before sunrise and its appearance, only in the reverse order.

The lower the solar disk descends to the western horizon, the less bright it becomes and first turns yellow, then orange and finally red. The sky also changes its color: at first it is golden, then orange, and at the edge - red.


When the solar disk comes close to the horizon, it acquires a dark red color, and on both sides of it you can see a bright streak of dawn, the colors of which from top to bottom go from bluish-green to bright orange tones. At the same time, a colorless glow forms above the dawn.

Simultaneously with this phenomenon, on the opposite side of the sky, a stripe of an ash-bluish hue (the shadow of the Earth) appears, above which you can see a segment of orange-pink color, the Belt of Venus - it appears above the horizon at an altitude of 10 to 20° and in a clear sky visible anywhere on our planet.

The further the Sun goes beyond the horizon, the more purple the sky becomes, and when it drops four to five degrees below the horizon, the shade acquires the most saturated tones. After this, the sky gradually becomes fiery red (Buddha’s rays), and from the place where the sun’s disk set, stripes of light rays stretch upward, gradually fading, after the disappearance of which a fading strip of dark red color can be seen near the horizon.

After the shadow of the Earth gradually fills the sky, the Belt of Venus dissipates, the silhouette of the Moon appears in the sky, then the stars - and night falls (twilight ends when the solar disk goes six degrees below the horizon). The more time passes after the Sun leaves the horizon, the colder it becomes, and by the morning, before sunrise, the lowest temperature is observed. But everything changes when, a few hours later, the red Sun begins to rise: the solar disk appears in the east, the night goes away, and the earth’s surface begins to warm up.

Why is the sun red

The sunset and sunrise of the red Sun has attracted the attention of mankind since ancient times, and therefore people, using all the methods available to them, tried to explain why the solar disk, being yellow, acquires a reddish tint on the horizon line. The first attempt to explain this phenomenon was legends, followed by folk signs: people were sure that the sunset and rise of the red Sun did not bode well.

For example, they were convinced that if the sky remained red for a long time after sunrise, the day would be unbearably hot. Another sign said that if before sunrise the sky in the east is red, and after sunrise this color immediately disappears, it will rain. The rising of the red Sun also promised bad weather if, after its appearance in the sky, it immediately acquired a light yellow color.

The rising of the red Sun in such an interpretation could hardly satisfy the inquisitive human mind for long. Therefore, after the discovery of various physical laws, including Rayleigh’s law, it was found that the red color of the Sun is explained by the fact that it, as having the longest wave, scatters much less in the dense atmosphere of the Earth than other colors.

Therefore, when the Sun is at the horizon, its rays slide along the earth's surface, where the air has not only the highest density, but also extremely high humidity at this time, which delays and absorbs the rays. As a result, only rays of red and orange colors are able to break through the dense and humid atmosphere in the first minutes of sunrise.

Sunrise and sunset

Although many people believe that in the northern hemisphere the earliest sunset occurs on December 21, and the latest on June 21, in reality this opinion is erroneous: the days of the winter and summer solstices are only dates that indicate the presence of the shortest or longest day of the year.

Interestingly, the further north the latitude, the closer to the solstice the latest sunset of the year occurs. For example, in 2014, at a latitude of sixty-two degrees, it occurred on June 23. But at the thirty-fifth latitude, the latest sunset of the year occurred six days later (the earliest sunrise was recorded two weeks earlier, a few days before June 21).

Without a special calendar at hand, it is quite difficult to determine the exact time of sunrise and sunset. This is explained by the fact that while rotating uniformly around its axis and the Sun, the Earth moves unevenly in an elliptical orbit. It is worth noting that if our planet were moving around the Sun, such an effect would not be observed.

Humanity noticed such time deviations a long time ago, and therefore throughout their history people have tried to clarify this issue for themselves: the ancient structures they erected, extremely reminiscent of observatories, have survived to this day (for example, Stonehenge in England or the Mayan pyramids in America).

Over the past few centuries, astronomers have created lunar and solar calendars by observing the sky to calculate the time of sunrise and sunset. Nowadays, thanks to the virtual network, any Internet user can calculate sunrise and sunset using special online services - to do this, just indicate the city or geographic coordinates (if the required area is not on the map), as well as the required date.

Interestingly, with the help of such calendars you can often find out not only the time of sunset or dawn, but also the period between the beginning of twilight and before sunrise, the length of day/night, the time when the Sun will be at its zenith, and much more.