The Dance of Sunrises and Sunsets: Discovering the Sun’s Journey Across the Sky!

In this session, I engage in a discussion regarding the nature of sunrises and sunsets, as well as the sun’s apparent motion across the sky. It is commonly understood that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; however, it also experiences an eastward drift relative to the stars over the course of a year. This drift requires approximately 365.25 days for the sun to return to the same position in the sky, a phenomenon that accounts for the existence of leap years. The apparent position of the sun is influenced by both the Earth’s orbital motion and its rotation on its axis. A solar day, which is measured from noon to noon, differs from a sidereal day, the latter being shorter by approximately four minutes. This discrepancy results in the sun appearing to traverse against the backdrop of the stars, following a path known as the ecliptic. The zodiac constellations through which the sun traverses include familiar names such as Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, and Sagittarius, among others. These constellations correspond to the sun’s position at various times throughout the year. Utilizing Stellarium, I illustrate the sun’s movement along the ecliptic and elucidate the concepts of solstices and equinoxes. The tilt of the Earth relative to its orbital plane is responsible for seasonal changes. During the summer solstice, the sun occupies a high position in the sky, resulting in shorter shadows, while during the winter solstice, the sun remains lower, casting longer shadows. The solstices delineate the longest and shortest days of the year, whereas the equinoxes occur when the sun crosses the celestial equator. The causative factor for the seasons is the tilt of the Earth’s axis, rather than its distance from the sun. The angle of sunlight significantly influences the intensity of heat received on the Earth’s surface. A higher angle of sunlight during the summer leads to more intense heating, whereas a lower angle in winter results in diminished heating. A comprehensive understanding of these interrelated factors enhances our grasp of how the sun’s apparent movement influences the changing of the seasons.