murphski8 t1_ivh93y2 wrote on November 7, 2022 at 11:20 PM

The earliest sunset is going to be on December 7 (at 4:46), so just hang in there for another month.

iamdanthemanstan t1_ivha46e wrote on November 7, 2022 at 11:27 PM

Why is the earliest sunset not on the solstice?

UmbralRaptor t1_ivhatyc wrote on November 7, 2022 at 11:32 PM

Mostly because of Earth's orbital eccentricity. Seriously. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equation_of_time

sudsomatic t1_ivi00n9 wrote on November 8, 2022 at 2:38 AM

Interesting I just looked up that the sun does set at the earliest time at 4:45pm on Dec 7 with a sun rise at 7:13am in DC. The shortest day is the 21st like we all know but the sun rise happens at 7:23am with a sun set at 4:49pm.

murphski8 t1_ivhau92 wrote on November 7, 2022 at 11:33 PM

The Equation of Time apparently. Solstice is just the shortest day, not necessarily the earliest sunset.

jgf556 t1_ivichua wrote on November 8, 2022 at 4:17 AM

Winter Solstice is the shortest day, and also when the sun appears to reach an endpoint in its analemma.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/using-only-a-camera-trace-the-solar-analemma-and-plot-the-solstice-170739208/

sagarnola89 t1_ivi7wwb wrote on November 8, 2022 at 3:39 AM

If only we actually passed the Sunshine Protection Act and the earliest the sun would set would be 546. Would be so nice...

CashewAddict t1_ivi72gg wrote on November 8, 2022 at 3:32 AM

TIL, thank you!