The sun is playing tricks on your calendar — here’s what’s really going on

While the winter solstice is still more than a week away, you can take solace in knowing the sun will begin setting later in the evening for most of the Northern Hemisphere.

For example, Tuesday’s sunset in Los Angeles is at 4:44 p.m. On Wednesday, it will be 4:45 p.m. By the winter solstice on Dec. 21, the sun will set in Los Angeles at 4:48 p.m. By year’s end, the city will see a 4:55 p.m. sunset.

The amount of time gained each day varies based on a location’s latitude.

Northern towns generally will not gain as much evening sunlight between now and the solstice. For instance, in Bismarck, North Dakota, sunset on the solstice will be just two minutes later than Tuesday’s.

Once January arrives, these towns gain sunlight more quickly.

Bismarck will start the year with a 5:05 p.m. sunse