Have you ever wondered why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every single day? I mean, it’s not just some arbitrary decision made by the universe. It actually happens for a very specific reason!

The Sun Rises in the East Because of Earth’s Rotation

The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west because Earth rotates on its axis once a day. The axis of Earth’s rotation is tilted at an angle 23.5 degrees from vertical. This tilt causes our planet to have four seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall).

The Sun Appears to Move in the Sky Due to Earth’s Revolution

Earth rotates counterclockwise on its axis, and this is what causes us to experience day and night. It also means that the Sun appears to move in a counterclockwise direction across the sky. But when it comes to why we see the sun rise in the east and set in the west—and not vice versa—it’s all about Earth’s revolution around its axis as it orbits around our star.