Dear Tom,
How far north of west is our sunset on the summer solstice?
Alex Hillside, Ill.
Dear Alex,
Triton College astronomer Dan Joyce tells us that when the sun sets in Chicago on June 21 at 8:31 p.m., it will drop below the horizon about 33 degrees north of west, its farthest north position of the year. Thereafter, sunsets will slowly work westward to due west on the autumnal equinox, finally reaching the year’s farthest south position, about 32 degrees south of west on the winter solstice. A similar scenario plays out for sunrise, the sun rising about 33 degrees north of east on June 21, due east on the autumnal equinox and about 32 degrees south of east on the winter solstice. Joyce marvels how the ancient Britons were able to build the Stonehenge monument that not only aligned the sun’s seasonal rise and set positions, but also the more complex extremities of the moon.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
