Welcome to Space.com!<br />I'm working on some real data for your location.<br />Briefly, you have 3 factors at work here.<br />One is the seasonal 23 1/2 degree tilt. (47 degrees over a year)<br />The other is the +/- 5 degree moon offset to the earth's 23 1/2 degree tilt.<br /><br />Finally, there is the angle of the ecliptic and how much of it is above the horizon.<br /><br />I picked a location in Washington, haven't had a chance to find Billingham. When I have more time later <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I suspect you have underestimated the annual sunrise and sunset angles.<br /><br />Here's some data. Again, when I have time, I'll give more accurate numbers. First, the sun.<br /><br />Sunrise.... Sunset (I feel a song coming on)<br />---------<br />Time (not accounting for "savings time")<br />Azimuth.<br /><br />Winter Solstice <br />07:55 125 (ESE).......1620...235 (SW)<br />Summer Solstice<br />04:11 055 (ENE).......2011...305 (NW)<br /><br />Maximum Elevation Winter 19 degrees, Summer 66 degrees.<br /><br />So, during the year, the sunrise and sunset locations shift ~70 degrees, much more than the interseasonal shift in maximum elevation, since when the sun is higher, more of the path is above the horizon.<br /><br />The moonrise and set can be 5 degrees more in either direction....but the "more path above the horizon" also applies. So, napkin calculations here, in a month the moonrise and set positions can vary maybe 20 degrees, if I'm right. <br />The sun location varies by 70 degrees or more.<br /><br />If you don't mind, can I ask a few questions? Feel free not to answer if you wish, but I'm trying to understand your perception.<br /><br />How long have you lived there? Less than a year or many years?<br />Is it a flat area, or is it more mountainous where some directions have a higher horizon?<br />Where did you live before (just the state)<br /><br />Finally, how long ago did you notice this? I find it an interesting insight into our perceptions on the first imp <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>