The sun sets generally in the west.

Basic answer

  • On Earth, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west for all normal locations and dates.
  • This is because Earth spins from west to east, making the sun appear to move across the sky from east to west.

Does it always set exactly west?

Not exactly:

  • On the two equinoxes each year, the sun sets almost due west everywhere on Earth except at the poles.
  • On other days, it sets a bit northwest or southwest of due west, depending on the season and your latitude.

Seasonal twist

  • Around the summer solstice, the sun sets as far to the northwest as it gets.
  • Around the winter solstice, it sets as far to the southwest as it gets.

So for everyday purposes, “the sun sets in the west” is correct, with a small seasonal swing toward northwest or southwest.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.