The Sun generally rises in the east and sets in the west, but the exact points of sunrise and sunset can vary throughout the year. This variation is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and its elliptical orbit around the Sun. Here are a few key points to consider:
Equinoxes: During the equinoxes (around March 20th and September 22nd), the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. This is when the Earth's axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun.
Solstices: During the solstices (around June 21st and December 21st), the Sun rises and sets at its most extreme points from due east and due west. In the Northern Hemisphere, around the June solstice, the Sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest. In the Southern Hemisphere, the reverse is true.
Midpoints: Between the equinoxes and solstices, the Sun rises and sets somewhere between due east and due west, depending on your latitude. The angle at which the Sun rises and sets changes gradually throughout the year.
Latitude effect: The variation in the Sun's path across the sky is more noticeable at higher latitudes. Near the poles, for example, there can be periods of continuous daylight (midnight sun) or continuous darkness (polar night) during certain times of the year.
It's important to note that the above information is a generalization, and local geographic factors can influence the exact timing and position of sunrise and sunset at specific locations.