Sunset vs Sunrise: Can you tell the difference?

For the answers to the quiz click "read more" to see the answers.

Here's some filler text.

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Those were some filler dots.

And now for the answers!

1. Sunset
2. Sunset
3. Sunset
4. Sunrise
5. Sunrise
6. Sunrise

[yodaiam]

The cooler air temperature in the morning can also make a significant difference. Very cold temperatures make the sun more red "higher" in the sky. The red colour goes away at lower "heights" in warmer weather. This is just an observation I made growing up on the extraordinarily cold Canadian prairies. The shape of the clouds can vary in the morning and evening and you are more likely to see high altitude contrails in the evening than in the morning. In very cold weather, you can also see multiple images of the sun (when the sun is "higher" in the sky).

[BeastOfTraal]

When you play the footage backwards you have to be sure no birds are in the shot.

[winc]

Since cameras do not have dark adaptation like the eye it might be difficult to discern the difference between sunrise and sunset photographs.

[fatpig]

2:54 only when you're in the northern hemisphere, not a universal truth.

[Xylarr]

In the southern hemisphere, the sun rises in the east, and moves up and left to the north. So you could play a northern hemisphere sunset backwards and call it a southern hemisphere sunrise.

[kelelaclch]

I love to post images of sunrises and sunsets, and sometimes they are not labeled as such... And, so in my effort to find out how I could discern the difference on my own, I came across your video!  Thank you for taking the time to explore the topic at hand and for shedding some light on a fascinating query!  I am pleased to know that I was able to identify five of the six images correctly before even learning the tips you highlighted!

[CaptainPantys]

I work night shifts. Sunsets are more beautiful then sun rises.

[dkhl]

The sun moves to the left (counter-clockwise) in the Southern hemisphere and to the right (clockwise) in the Northern hemisphere. So at 2:42, it could be a sunrise in Australia (example).

[Duplicity]

The sun moves to the left on the southern hemisphere. End it is directly coming up on sunrise and down on sunset in equator

[eyesofphysics]

That last point you mentioned is only true in the northern hemisphere, though. The sun goes from east to west closer to the south only during any time in the northern hemisphere, especially during winter. In the southern hemisphere, the sun moves from east to west across the northern half of the sky (again, especially during winter in July), just like your "fake" reversed footage.

[Kbroadd]

The first point about how your eyes see the sunset/ sunrise is interesting but 1) some people have night jobs & sleep during the day so this would likely not hold for them, and 2) if you're just looking at a photograph it doesn't help you figure it out. Thanks for another fun video!

[pteexamn]

what if you are in Australia? the view sunrise movement must be different!

[filipbiaonski]

This direction of setting sun.
It's only right if somebody lives in Northern Hemisphere

[supermarc]

If you would measure the wavelengths of the incoming light, the doppler-effect will cause a slight red-shift at sunset and a slight blue-shift at sunrise. So this could be another way to measure the difference.

[blakenelson]

would not the "travelling in the wrong direction thing depend on where on earth you are I personally remember seeing sun sets and sun rises that go straight up. and straight down.

[graylee]

Sunrises are much more brighter and yellow, while sunsets are much more darker and orange.

[carljohnsoncj]

The sun does move to the left in australia

[brian_el]

How long does it take from dusk to sunrise?

[xuapril]

I don't understand how people tell the difference between sunrise and sunsets, I almost always get it wrong. I was only sure of the last one, that it was a sunrise. I don't know how I know, it's just a feeling. Anyone care to explain how one can tell besides the points mentioned in the video?

[ReinisDebners]

great video! This convinced me even more to wake up early and go for a run