Enjoy tonight's sunset, the last 7 p.m. sunset for 5 months
Emily Schmidt
Updated on April 06, 2026
Enjoy that 7 p.m. sunset Thursday night in Tampa because the sun won’t set again in the 7 o’clock hour until March 14, when Daylight Saving Time begins again.
As we move closer and closer to winter each day, the days grow shorter. This has actually been happening since slightly after the beginning of summer on the Summer Solstice on June 20.
Tonight's 7pm sunset is last 7pm sunset for 5 months! Thank the Earth's 23.5º tilt, always pointed the same direction. As it orbits the sun, it's pointed at the sun in summer making longer days. It's increasingly pointed away from the sun this time of year, making days shorter.
— Ric Kearbey WTSP (@RicKearbeyWTSP) October 15, 2020
The reason the days are always getting longer and shorter is because the Earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5 degrees.
Because the Earth's axis is always pointed in the same direction and the Earth orbits the sun, there are times when the northern hemisphere is pointed at the sun making for longer days because of more direct sunlight (summer) and then there are times when the northern hemisphere is pointed away from the sun and we receive much less direct light and the days are shorter (winter).
Significant sunrise and sunset dates to come:
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