Shortest Day

[Gromit]

I had always assumed that the shortest day had the latest sunrise and the earliest sunset.

I have only just noticed that today is the earliest sunset, and on 21 December it is 2 later than today.

And the sunrise continues to get later until 10 January.

Did you know, or is it just me?

[TheChair]

Yes, I only found this out last year!
Explanation here:
http://www.larry.denenberg.com/earliest-sunset.html

[mushroom25]

yes.

here's a fairly good explanation for this.

http://www.larry.denenberg.com/earliest-sunset.html

[jim360]

Tl;DR -- the point is that time is just too messed up to be so neat.

[Ellipsis]

No, I did not know that - thanks.

[mibn2cweus]

It's pretty much a coincidence that the Earth is near the fastest point in its orbit (perigee) at Winter Solstice and slowest (apogee) at Summer Solstice . . . the opposite being true for the Southern Hemisphere.