If you spend a lot of time outdoors, the phrase “the shortest day of the year” pertaining to December 21, known as the Winter Solstice, which is the official start of winter, appears a bit misleading. December 21 is technically the day with the shortest amount of sunlight. However, the earliest sunset noticeably occurs much earlier than that. So why don’t these line up? Let’s consult with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the answer:

“While the length of a day is defined as 24 hours long, in reality, it varies slightly due to the spin of the Earth. The actual length is defined as a ‘solar day,’ and its length can vary from a few seconds to 30 seconds longer than 24 hours. Additionally, latitude plays a role. At NYC’s latitude (around 40 degrees North), the earliest sunset occurs December 8, then begins to get later starting around the 14th. However, during this time, the sunrise steadily gets later, and doesn’t reach its latest point until January 5.”

And there we have it. If you sleep in, you may not notice the later sunrises. Interestingly, the height of the Palisades cliffs in New Jersey makes it seem like the sun sets in New York City up to seven minutes earlier than the actual time.