When the Sun Sets

The sun appears to set due to the Earth's rotation. As the Earth spins on its axis from west to east, different locations pass into the shadow of the planet. This rotation causes the sun to seem like it's moving downward in the sky, leading to sunset, which occurs when the sun dips below the horizon. The exact timing of sunset varies throughout the year and depends on your geographic location. Factors such as altitude, surrounding hills, and buildings can also influence how and when you observe the sunset.