Is the Sun's Movement Different in the Southern Night Sky?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the observation of the sun's movement in the southern night sky, particularly from the perspective of someone in Australia. The participant compares their experiences in Tasmania with expectations based on their previous observations in Sydney and queries whether similar patterns are observed in the northern hemisphere.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • A participant describes their experience observing the sun setting in the southwest and rising in the southeast while in Tasmania, contrasting this with their expectations based on experiences in Sydney.
  • The participant questions whether people in the northern hemisphere observe the sun rising in the northeast and setting in the northwest during summer.
  • Some participants confirm that in the northern hemisphere, there are areas where direct sunshine is only experienced on the longest days of the year, but there is confusion regarding the specific question about sunrise and sunset directions.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the original question, with repeated emphasis on the specific inquiry about the sun's rising and setting positions in the northern hemisphere during summer.
  • A participant states their latitude as 40 N, implying relevance to the sun's movement but does not elaborate further.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific directional observations of the sun in the northern hemisphere, with some participants confirming aspects of the sun's movement while others express confusion about the original question.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of responses regarding the specific inquiry about sunrise and sunset directions, as well as the geographical context of the observations mentioned.

jfoldbar
hi.
i am from sydney australia. over the xmas holidays i spent some time in tasmania, and had a very memorable night sleeping on a 1300m high mountain with 360° veiws and crystal clear night.
i stayed awake all night hoping to see the southern lights but no luck. however i did see something else that spun me out a little.

in sydney in summer, the sun sets in the west about 8pm and rises in the east about 5.30 am, as would be expected.
however from the mountain in tasmania i observed the sun setting about 9.30 pm in the SW and rising about 4.30 am in the SE.
also in the twilight time after the sun had set, the glow on the horizon was visible from the direction of due south, around to the direction of sw.
and then the same thing again as the sun was rising the next morning.

as a young teenager i was slightly interested in astronomy, so i know how to find south and expected the days to be a little longer.
i didnt expect though to see the sun setting in the SW and rise in the SE. i thought it would set in the west and rise in the east.

when i think about it though it does make sense, I am just wondering, do people in the northern hemisphere observe the same thing.
i.e., do you see the sun rise in the NE and set in the NW in summer?
 
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jfoldbar said:
when i think about it though it does make sense, I am just wondering, do people in the northern hemisphere observe the same thing. i.e., do you see the sun rise in the NE and set in the NW in summer?
Yes. There are definitely parts of my home that only get direct sunshine on the longest days of the year.
 
Borg said:
Yes. There are definitely parts of my home that only get direct sunshine on the longest days of the year.
thats not what i asked
 
jfoldbar said:
thats not what i asked
Yes. There are definitely parts of my home on the NW and NE sides that only get direct sunshine on the longest days of the year.
Better?
 
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here is my question again.
in summer, do you see the sun rise in the north east and set in the north west?
 
jfoldbar said:
in summer, do you see the sun rise in the north east and set in the north west?
Yes. Latitude is 40 N.
 

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