Sunrise Sunset Calculator
Knowing precisely when the sun rises and sets matters for photographers, travelers, farmers, sailors, outdoor workers, athletes, and anyone who plans activities around daylight. The Sunrise & Sunset Calculator takes a location (city or coordinates) and a date, then returns accurate solar events: sunrise, sunset, daylight duration, solar noon, and twilight windows (civil, nautical, astronomical). It’s fast, simple, and useful for planning anything that depends on natural light.
Below is a clear guide on what the tool does, how to use it step-by-step, a practical example, key features and benefits, accuracy tips, common use cases, and a thorough 20-question FAQ.
What the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator does
The tool calculates:
- Sunrise — the moment the sun’s upper limb appears over the horizon (local time).
- Sunset — when the sun’s upper limb disappears below the horizon.
- Solar noon — when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for that day and location.
- Day length — total daylight hours and minutes between sunrise and sunset.
- Twilight times:
- Civil twilight — when the sun is 6° below the horizon; enough light for outdoor activity without artificial light.
- Nautical twilight — sun 6°–12° below horizon; horizon visible at sea.
- Astronomical twilight — sun 12°–18° below horizon; faint stars become visible.
- Time zone and DST adjustments — results displayed in local time, accounting for daylight saving if applicable.
The calculator uses standard astronomical algorithms (solar declination, hour angle, and observer coordinates) to compute these times for any latitude, longitude, and date.
Who benefits from this tool
- Landscape and golden-hour photographers planning shoots.
- Hikers, campers, and outdoor event planners.
- Fishermen, sailors, and pilots needing reliable light windows.
- Farmers scheduling irrigation or harvesting tasks.
- Religious observance and prayer-timing needs.
- Anyone coordinating travel, commutes, or social activities around daylight.
Step-by-step: How to use the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator
- Select or enter your location
- Type a city name (e.g., “Lima, Peru”) or enter latitude/longitude coordinates for precise results.
- Pick a date
- Choose today, a past date, or a future date. The tool typically supports full calendar ranges.
- Choose time format and units
- 12-hour or 24-hour clock, and specify if you want times in UTC instead of local time.
- (Optional) Enter elevation
- For high altitude locations you may choose to include elevation to slightly refine sunrise/sunset times.
- Click Calculate
- The tool returns sunrise, sunset, solar noon, day length, and the three twilight periods.
- Save or export results
- Many calculators let you save favorite locations, add events to your calendar, or export a printable report.
Practical example
Example: You want to plan an early-morning photoshoot in San Francisco, CA on June 15, 2026.
- Enter location: San Francisco, CA (or coordinates 37.7749° N, 122.4194° W).
- Enter date: June 15, 2026.
- Click Calculate.
Sample output (example values):
- Sunrise: 5:46 AM PDT
- Sunset: 8:31 PM PDT
- Solar noon: 1:08 PM PDT
- Day length: 14 hours 45 minutes
- Civil twilight begins: 5:18 AM PDT (useful for pre-sunrise composition)
- Civil twilight ends: 8:59 PM PDT
Use the civil twilight times to arrive early for soft pre-sunrise colors and stay after sunset for blue-hour shots. If you plan to shoot from a hilltop, add elevation to the calculator to get slightly earlier sunrise times.
Note: The numeric times above are illustrative. The actual calculator will compute precise times using accepted astronomical formulas and local DST rules.
Key features & benefits
- Accurate solar times for any point on Earth and any date.
- Twilight windows included — invaluable for photography and navigation.
- Local time conversion with daylight saving awareness.
- Elevation option to refine times in mountainous locations.
- Batch or calendar export — generate a week/month of sunrise-sunset times or add events to Google/Apple Calendar.
- Mobile friendly — use it on the go; save locations for quick checks.
Tips to get the best results
- Use coordinates for remote locations or areas with multiple time zones.
- Include elevation if you’re on a mountain or tall building — higher elevation sees the sun earlier and later.
- Double-check time zone when traveling internationally; some tools auto-detect but manual confirmation avoids mistakes.
- Plan around twilight, not only sunrise/sunset. Photographers get richer color before and after sunrise when sky light is soft.
- Save frequent locations (home, favorite parks, photo spots) so you can retrieve times quickly.
- Combine with weather forecasts — a beautiful sunrise requires clear or partially cloudy skies.
Accuracy & limitations
- Calculations are highly accurate for sea-level observers; including elevation slightly improves precision.
- Local terrain (hills, buildings, trees) can delay or advance the observed sunrise/sunset compared to theoretical horizon crossing — consider on-site obstruction when timing exact shots.
- Atmospheric refraction (light bending through the atmosphere) is included in standard algorithms, but extreme atmospheric conditions can vary observed times slightly.
- Daylight Saving Time and regional time zone rules are applied based on location data; very new or changing DST rules may need verification.
20 FAQs — Sunrise & Sunset Calculator
- What is the difference between sunrise and dawn?
Dawn marks the start of morning twilight; sunrise is when the sun’s top edge appears above the horizon. - What are civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight?
They are periods before sunrise/after sunset defined by the sun’s angle below horizon: civil (≤6°), nautical (6°–12°), astronomical (12°–18°). - Can I get sunrise times for any date?
Yes — past, present, and future dates are supported. - Do times show in my local time zone?
Yes — most calculators display results in local time and honor DST. - How precise are the times?
Calculations are typically precise to the minute or better using accepted astronomical formulas. - Does elevation affect sunrise/sunset?
Yes — higher elevation sees earlier sunrises and later sunsets by a small number of minutes. - Can I export results to my calendar?
Many tools let you add sunrise/sunset events to Google/Apple calendars. - Will terrain obstruct the actual sunrise?
Yes — hills and buildings can block the sun so the observed time differs from the theoretical horizon crossing. - Is atmospheric refraction considered?
Standard algorithms account for refraction; extreme conditions can still shift times slightly. - How often do sunrise times change?
They change slightly every day, more rapidly near equinoxes. - Can I compare sunrise times for two cities?
Yes — many calculators support side-by-side location comparisons. - Is solar noon the same as 12:00 PM?
No — solar noon is when the sun is highest in the sky locally; it varies from clock noon due to longitude and equation of time. - Do polar regions have sunrise/sunset every day?
No — above the Arctic/Antarctic circles there are polar day/night periods with continuous daylight or darkness. - Can I query sunrise/sunset in UTC?
Yes — you can usually switch output to UTC/GMT. - How far ahead can I calculate?
Typically decades into the future; astronomical calculations remain valid far ahead. - Can I save favorite locations?
Many calculators provide a “favorites” or saved locations feature. - Is the tool free to use?
Most online sunrise/sunset calculators are free. - Can I use this for religious prayer times?
Yes — sunrise/sunset and twilight times are commonly used for prayer schedules; consult religious guidelines for specifics. - Does moonrise/moonset calculation also exist?
Some advanced tools include moonrise/moonset and lunar phase calculations. - How do I adjust for local obstructions?
Walk the location or use topographic maps / sun-path tools to estimate horizon obstructions and modify your schedule.
Final thoughts
The Sunrise & Sunset Calculator is an indispensable planning tool for anyone whose activities depend on natural light. It combines precise astronomy with simple inputs so you can plan shoots, events, travel, and outdoor work confidently. For best results, combine the calculator’s times with local topography checks and an accurate weather forecast — then enjoy perfectly timed mornings and evenings.