Why does sunrise direction change throughout the year?
Sunrise and sunset don't stay fixed on the horizon. They drift back and forth across the seasons because of Earth's tilt.
The simple explanation
The sun's path changes through the year because Earth is tilted. That tilt is why sunrise and sunset shift along the horizon across the seasons.
Summer vs winter sunrise
In the northern hemisphere, sunrise usually moves further northeast around summer and further southeast around winter. Sunset similarly shifts northwest in summer and southwest in winter.
What happens near the solstice
Around the summer and winter solstices, the sun reaches its most extreme rising and setting points along the horizon.
How SunPoint helps
SunPoint shows the exact direction for a specific place and date, so you do not have to guess where the sun will appear.
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