When the sun sets where does it go?

We recently went on holiday to Menorca and every night we walked round the marina and saw the sunset behind the boats. We did the obligatory photoshoots in front of it. And my son just came out with

“When the sun sets where does it go?”

And i thought it was just a lovely question. It’s certainly not the most profound or interesting question he has ever asked but its a very valid question. Where does it go????

Even as a grown up (if i do say so myself!!), with a fairly decent grasp on science, I just imagine it rises up into the sky on a morning opening its eyes as it rises and then sinks down into the horizon, closes its eyes and goes to sleep for the night. A bit like the teletubby baby in the sun!!!! I feel if my daughter had asked the same question at 5 years old that is the answer I would have given her and she would have been happy with that. My son is a different matter.

In reality the sun and earth move together in perfect harmony so that when the sun does set it rises in another country. And day and night switch over. And that is really really amazing when you think about it. It works every single day…..no matter what is happening in your life the sun rises and the sun sets in perfect harmony with the earth every day. When you are in nighttime, somebody else somewhere else is in daytime. And that is the answer that I should have given. But of course answering these questions is a balancing act – too little information (or a little white lie) and its not enough, too much information and its overwhelming and so my answer to this question was a simple one……….

“It goes to another country”

“What country does it go to?”

And coming from the UK I am absolutely sure you can imagine what country I said. 10 points for anyone who correctly guesses the country in the comments below!!