Solar Day vs Sidereal Day

A sidereal day is one full rotation relative to distant stars. A solar day is the time until the Sun appears in the same direction again.

Progress through solar day0 h

Animation speed0.08 day/s

Concept: Earth rotates once relative to the stars in about 23 h 56 min. Because Earth moves around the Sun, it needs about 4 extra minutes to face the Sun again.