When the sun starts running behind the clock — as it does in December and January — the time of solar noon keeps getting pushed later. This delays the time of sunrise in the morning and causes sunset in the evening to be later than we would otherwise expect.

Does sunrise get later?

By contrast, as we approach the summer solstice, sunrise gradually gets earlier, while sunset gradually gets later. The reason for this is that Earth orbits the Sun at an irregular rate. It does not move at a steady pace, but rather speeds up and slows down.

What season does the sunrise later?

In the spring and fall, after the equinoxes, the Sun would rise and set later than average, while in the summer and winter, after the solstices, the Sun would rise and set earlier than average.