Guide

Happening unseenSky

Why the earliest sunset comes before the shortest day

December

The year's earliest sunset arrives in early December, about two weeks before the winter solstice, and the latest sunrise does not come until early January. The shortest day sits in between, because the clock time of solar noon drifts later through December.

Why this time of year

In December, sunset clock times bottom out and then start creeping later while sunrise times are still sliding later, so the shortest day falls between the two turning points.

How to notice it

  1. Look up today's sunset and sunrise times in a weather app or the USNO table and write them down in early December. Here in eastern Massachusetts sunset sits near 4:13 pm then.
  2. Check again around the solstice (about December 21) and in early January. Sunset will be later each time, even though the days are still short.
  3. Compare sunrise times the same way: they keep getting later until early January, near 7:15 am, even after the shortest day has passed.

Try this with kids: The solstice is the shortest day, so why is the sun already setting later by then? Can you find the day sunset stopped getting earlier?

Phrase to know: “Solar noon” is the moment the sun is highest in the sky, and in December it drifts a little later on the clock each day.

Safety

  • Never look straight at the sun.

Sources

  • earthsky.orgEarliest sunsets near 40 N around December 8; latest sunrises in early January; cause is the solar day exceeding 24 clock hours in December so solar noon drifts later; date varies with latitude.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO, 42.4N 71.4W, EST: Dec 5 2026 sunrise 06:59, sunset 16:13.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO: Dec 10 2026 sunrise 07:04, sunset 16:13.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO: Dec 21 2026 sunrise 07:12, sunset 16:16.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO: Jan 3 2027 sunrise 07:15, sunset 16:25.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO: Jan 10 2027 sunrise 07:14, sunset 16:32.
  • aa.usno.navy.milUSNO: Nov 15 2026 sunrise 06:37, sunset 16:23.

Checked against these sources on October 2, 2026.

In the guide for December

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