Sunrise Sunset Calculator

About Sunrise and Sunset Calculations

Our sunrise sunset calculator uses precise astronomical algorithms to determine the exact times when the sun crosses the horizon at any location on Earth. Understanding these solar events is essential for photographers, farmers, astronomers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to plan activities around natural light.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the date you're interested in, along with the latitude and longitude of your location. You can click "Use My Location" to automatically detect your coordinates, or enter them manually. Click "Calculate" to see detailed sunrise and sunset times, including twilight periods and day length.

Understanding Twilight Phases

Civil Twilight: The brightest phase of twilight. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light to conduct outdoor activities without artificial lighting. The sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon.

Nautical Twilight: During nautical twilight, the horizon is still visible at sea, allowing navigators to take reliable star sights. The sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon.

Astronomical Twilight: The darkest form of twilight. During astronomical twilight, most stars are visible and it's dark enough for astronomical observations. The sun is between 12 and 18 degrees below the horizon.

Why Solar Times Vary

Sunrise and sunset times vary throughout the year due to Earth's axial tilt and elliptical orbit around the sun. Locations closer to the poles experience more dramatic variations, with extremely long days in summer and short days in winter. At the equator, day length remains relatively constant year-round.

Applications and Uses

Photographers use this information to plan golden hour and blue hour shoots. Farmers and gardeners track day length for planting schedules. Astronomers need to know when the sky is dark enough for observations. Religious communities use sunrise and sunset times for prayer schedules. Outdoor enthusiasts plan hikes and activities to maximize daylight hours. Plan your outdoor schedule alongside our Moon Phase Calculator.

Solar Noon Explained

Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the day. This doesn't always occur at 12:00 PM clock time due to time zones, daylight saving time, and the equation of time. At solar noon, shadows are shortest and the sun's rays are most direct. Use our Time Zone Converter for converting between different time zones, and our Day of Year Calculator to track which day of the year it is.