How come the sun seems to set?

Question

toward the northwest in my area in American, I live in NYC, and teh sun is supposed to setto the west, but it seems northwest, I wonder why, it appears that way, when I point my compass that way it says NW..........

Answer 1

Assuming you have corrected for the magnetic declination in your area, the sun will rise exactly in the east and set exactly in the west only if you are on flat ground on March 21 and September 21. The earth's rotational axis is at 23.5° to the plane of rotation around the sun (dihedral angle), so if you are in the northern hemisphere between March 21 and Sept 21, you will have more than 12 hours of daylight, and that means the sun will be visible for more than 180° of compass bearings. The further north you go, the further north the sun will set.  On June 21, in NYC, the sun will rise at its most northerly point (NE) and set at its most northerly point (NW).  If you are north of the Arctic Circle on June 21, the sun will just make a big circle in the sky.  

In the winter, its the opposite.  In NYC, the sun will rise in the SE and set in the SW. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun will not be visible at all.

Answer 2

Actually, the sun should appear to set to the southwest of NYC. This is because NYC is north of the equator and north of both tropics, so even when the earth tilts, the sun should appear to be to the south all day, and it should set in the southwest. Maybe your compass is defective.

Answer 3

to quote the flaming lips

"you realize the sun's not going down its just an illusion caused by the world spinning round"

Answer 4

If there are no other magnetic fields around, let your compass arrow point  and then turn the compass under it until the "N" is directly under the arrow. The sun should appear to set in the west then.

Actually, the sun remains in place and the EARTH rotates from west to east, so it LOOKS like the sun is setting. Its really just the earth's rotation.