It has to do with the elliptical nature of our orbit and the tilt of our axis

[Blues Heron]

Last edited Sat Dec 20, 2025, 10:55 PM - Edit history (1)

The sun appears to describe a figure eight pattern called the analemma, on a day to day basis throughout the year, the way this shape intersects the horizon in the west and east causes the earliest sunset to be around dec 8 in the mid latitude northern hemisphere, likewise the latest sunrise is sometime around Jan 3. We’ve been gaining daylight in the evening for over a week already!