Official Sunrise & Sunset
Calculated at a solar zenith angle of 90.8333° (accounting for 34 arcminutes of atmospheric refraction and 16 arcminutes of solar semi-diameter).
Sunrise and Sunset Times Worldwide — Solar Calculator
Calculate today's sunrise, sunset, solar noon, civil dawn/dusk, and daylight duration for any city worldwide using precise NOAA astronomical algorithms.
Sunrise 06:05 AM Civil Dawn: 05:32 AM
Sunset 08:12 PM Civil Dusk: 08:45 PM
Solar Noon 01:08 PM Elevation: 58.4°
Day Length 14h 07m Night: 9h 53m
Sun Path & Altitude Trajectory
58% Daylight🌄 Morning Twilight & Golden Hour
- Astronomical Dawn: 04:15 AM
- Nautical Dawn: 04:55 AM
- Civil Dawn: 05:32 AM
- Morning Golden Hour: 06:05 AM – 06:45 AM
🌆 Evening Twilight & Golden Hour
- Evening Golden Hour: 07:30 PM – 08:12 PM
- Civil Dusk: 08:45 PM
- Nautical Dusk: 09:22 PM
- Astronomical Dusk: 10:02 PM
NOAA Astronomical Engine
Astronomical Solar Modeling
The timing of sunrise, sunset, and natural daylight is governed by Earth's axial tilt (23.44°) and elliptical orbit around the Sun. This solar calculator implements pure NOAA astronomical equations to compute the exact solar zenith angles, true solar time, and day length for any calendar date across the globe. To visualize the live terminator line and night shadows on a world map, explore the World Day & Night Map. For nighttime celestial tracking, consult our Moon Phase Calendar, or track live solar arcs on the Real-Time World Clock.
Solar Calculation Parameters
Civil, Nautical & Astro Twilight
Calculates precise transition phases when the sun drops 6°, 12°, and 18° below the horizon for skywatchers and navigators.
Solar Noon & Max Elevation
Determines the exact minute the sun crosses the local celestial meridian and reaches its peak daily elevation angle.
Golden & Blue Hours
Find the optimal natural lighting windows for photography when the sun is between 6° above the horizon and official sunset.
Polar Edge Case Handling
Mathematical support for Midnight Sun (24h continuous daylight) and Polar Night (continuous darkness) in Arctic and Antarctic latitudes.
100% Client-Side Computation
High precision solar ephemeris computed in your browser without lag, rate limits, or external server dependencies.
Solar Science & Twilight Guide
The Science of Sunrise, Sunset & Twilight Phases
Sunrise and sunset times are dictated by spherical trigonometry, the Earth's 23.44° axial tilt, and atmospheric optics. The NOAA astronomical engine calculates exact solar zenith thresholds to model each phase of daylight and dusk:
Atmospheric Refraction & Zenith Thresholds
- Official Sunrise & Sunset (Zenith 90.8333°): The precise moment the upper limb of the Sun aligns with the true horizon. Earth's atmosphere refracts light rays upward by ~34 arcminutes, combined with the Sun's 16 arcminute semi-diameter. Thus, the center of the solar disk is actually 50 arcminutes (0.8333°) below the true horizon when sunrise appears.
- Civil Twilight (Zenith 90.8333° to 96°): The Sun is 0° to 6° below the horizon. Terrestrial objects are clearly distinguishable, streetlights remain off, and outdoor activities can proceed without artificial lighting.
- Nautical Twilight (Zenith 96° to 102°): The Sun is 6° to 12° below the horizon. At sea, the horizon remains sharp enough for mariners to take celestial sights against navigational stars.
- Astronomical Twilight (Zenith 102° to 108°): The Sun is 12° to 18° below the horizon. The faint atmospheric skyglow completely fades, opening full astronomical darkness for deep-sky observation.
Earth's Axial Tilt & Seasonal Day Length Variation
Because Earth is tilted at 23.44° relative to its orbital plane, day length varies dramatically with latitude throughout the year. At the Equator (0°), day length remains nearly constant at 12 hours year-round. Moving toward polar latitudes, summer solstices produce the Midnight Sun (24 hours of continuous sunlight), while winter solstices result in Polar Night.
To view the real-time curved terminator boundary separating day and night across the continents, explore our World Day & Night Map, or track celestial cycles on our Moon Phase Calendar.
Solar & Twilight Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn about NOAA solar calculation formulas, civil/nautical/astronomical twilight definitions, and polar day/night handling.
What time is sunrise today?
Sunrise is the moment when the upper edge of the sun first appears above the eastern horizon. You can find today local sunrise time by selecting your city in our solar calculator, which computes times based on precise latitude and longitude coordinates.
What time is sunset today?
Sunset is the moment when the trailing edge of the sun disk disappears completely below the western horizon. Our calculator evaluates exact sunset, solar noon, and day length for any global location using NOAA astronomical algorithms.
Why do sunrise and sunset times change?
Sunrise and sunset times change throughout the year because Earth is tilted on its rotational axis by approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the Sun. As Earth orbits the Sun, this axial tilt causes daylight duration to expand during summer months and contract during winter months.
Why are sunrise and sunset times different between cities?
Solar times depend directly on geographical latitude and longitude. Locations farther east experience sunrise earlier than locations to the west within the same time zone, while latitude dictates how dramatically day length varies between summer and winter solstices.
What is the difference between sunrise and dawn?
Dawn is the period of twilight that occurs before sunrise, beginning when the morning sky first starts lightening while the sun is still below the horizon. Sunrise occurs only when the physical disk of the sun breaks above the horizon.
What is the difference between sunset and dusk?
Sunset is the exact moment the sun dips completely below the horizon, while dusk is the twilight phase that follows sunset, concluding when complete night begins at the end of astronomical twilight.
Does daylight saving time affect sunrise and sunset times?
Yes. Advancing civil clocks by one hour during daylight saving time makes sunrise and sunset appear to happen one hour later by the clock. While the physical solar cycle remains unchanged, the shift provides an extra hour of natural evening daylight for civil activities.