Sunrise & Sunset Times Calculator for Any Location

Plan your outdoor activities, photography sessions, or travel by knowing the exact sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours for any place on Earth, on any date.

Sunrise/Sunset Calculator

Calculate sunrise, sunset, and twilight times for any location

Latitude

Longitude

Date

About This Calculator

Calculates times based on your coordinates and date
Times are shown in local timezone (approximated from longitude)
Civil twilight is when the sun is 6° below the horizon
May show polar day/night for extreme latitudes

How the Sunrise Sunset Calculator Works

This tool calculates precise sunrise, sunset, and day length for any location on Earth. Enter a city name or coordinates, select a date, and get detailed solar timing information including twilight phases.

Calculations use astronomical algorithms based on Earth's position relative to the sun. The tool accounts for latitude, longitude, date, and atmospheric refraction. Results are accurate to within a minute for most locations.

Get sunrise, sunset, solar noon, day length, and twilight times (civil, nautical, astronomical). See how day length changes throughout the year at your location. Essential for planning outdoor activities and photography.

When You'd Actually Use This

Planning photography shoots

Golden hour happens around sunrise and sunset. Know exact times to arrive at your location. Twilight phases offer different lighting for various photography styles.

Scheduling outdoor events

Planning a wedding, concert, or sports event? Know when natural light ends. Schedule lighting setup and event timing around sunset for smooth execution.

Planning travel and vacations

Traveling to extreme latitudes? Day length varies dramatically. Arctic summers have midnight sun; winters have polar night. Plan activities accordingly.

Gardening and agriculture

Plants need specific light exposure. Track day length to plan planting, harvesting, and artificial lighting for greenhouses. Essential for crop planning.

Religious observance timing

Many religious practices tie to solar positions—Fajr and Maghrib prayers, Jewish zmanim, etc. Calculate accurate times for daily observances.

Energy and solar panel planning

Solar panels generate power between sunrise and sunset. Calculate potential generation hours. Plan battery capacity based on daylight availability.

What to Know Before Using

Times vary by exact location.Sunrise/sunset changes by about 4 minutes per degree of longitude. Mountain ranges and elevation also affect visible sunrise/sunset times.

Atmospheric conditions affect actual visibility.Calculations assume clear horizon. Mountains, buildings, or weather can delay visible sunrise or hide sunset earlier than calculated times.

Twilight has three phases.Civil twilight (bright enough for outdoor activities), nautical twilight (horizon visible for navigation), astronomical twilight (faintest light before full night).

Day length changes fastest at equinoxes.Spring and fall equinoxes see the most rapid day length changes—several minutes per day at mid-latitudes. Solstices see minimal change.

Pro tip: For photography, arrive 30 minutes before sunrise or stay 30 minutes after sunset. The best light often happens during twilight, not at exact sunrise/sunset.

Common Questions

Why do sunrise times change throughout the year?

Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the sun, different hemispheres tilt toward or away from the sun, changing day length and sun position.

What is the golden hour?

Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when sunlight is softer, warmer, and more diffuse. Typically lasts about an hour—perfect for photography.

Where does the sun rise and set?

Due east/west only at equinoxes. In summer, sun rises/sets north of east/west. In winter, south of east/west. Exact position depends on latitude and date.

What is solar noon?

Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point. It's rarely at 12:00 on your clock due to time zones and daylight saving time. Shadows are shortest at solar noon.

Why are days longer in summer?

Your hemisphere tilts toward the sun in summer. The sun takes a longer, higher path across the sky, resulting in more daylight hours and more direct sunlight.

What happens at the poles?

Arctic/Antarctic circles experience midnight sun (24-hour daylight) in summer and polar night (24-hour darkness) in winter. Duration increases closer to the pole.

How accurate are these calculations?

Typically accurate within 1-2 minutes for most locations. Less accurate near poles where sun angle is shallow. Weather and terrain affect actual visible times.

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