sunrise or sunset, which is quickest ?

[pagan3142]

Not such a silly question, as the Earth rotates and it also orbits the sun we must be accelerating towards the sunrise. We also lose about 4 mins every day so where do'es it go ?
So do'es the Sun rise quicker than it sets ?
Phone calls to NASA did not result in any answer. Anyone know the answer ?

[Guille]

Either the speed of sunrise and sunset are equal to each other everywhere, or only on the equator. In the case of the first, then there is no problem . Inthe case of the second, the furthest a place is from the equator, the more the difference of sunrise and sunset proportions (wheather if south is more sunrise and let sunset or vice versa, I don't know).

Don't take my idea of it as a correct answer, but I think it can't be very wrong.

[pagan3142]

no i think you are wrong, as we accelerate towards the sun (constant ?) we must arrive faster due to the spin of the Earth, Hence it follows that sunset is slower as we move away. Although not visibly noticable, Don't people say "those lovely Summer evenings not long mornings ???

[michellemfry]

From an aesthetic, spiritual viewpoint, sunrise is "imagined" as quicker. Whether or not this is an illusion, I don't know.

I once saw a sunrise on an Easter morning that was dividing the sky in front of me on a highway, the sun rising to my right, and the moon and stars to my left in the same sky. The highway gave the illusion of two separate pieces to the sky. It was one of those once in a lifetime moments. The sun literally knocked the moon and stars out of their place. I know it was just the appearance of the light, but it was from my view on the highway as if the stars were knocked out of their place.

[pagan3142]

i have had similar experiences but yours sounds the best.
Guess you just have to be lucky

[mkirkpatrick]

Those few minutes which add up daily,are they not evened up every four years?
Sunrise seems the quickest to me but that is no doubt an optical illusion.
Interesting post though.



regards michael.