Free Online Sunrise & Sunset Calculator
Calculate sunrise, sunset, daylight length, and twilight times.
−90 to 90
−180 to 180
Events are evaluated for the calendar date at the selected location. Clock times are shown in your browser's time zone.
Loading the astronomy library…
Clock times use your browser's time zone. If the selected place is far from your own zone, an evening event can appear on the next calendar date.
Sunrise and sunset use the Sun's centre with standard atmospheric refraction, so the visible disc may rise a minute or two earlier than the geometric centre crossing.
Twilight times
Morning and evening boundaries for the three standard twilight definitions.
| Twilight | Sun altitude | Dawn | Dusk | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculate sun times to populate this table. | ||||
Civil twilight ends when the Sun is 6° below the horizon, nautical twilight at 12°, and astronomical twilight at 18°. At high latitudes in summer the Sun may never descend far enough for some of these stages.
About the Sunrise and Sunset Calculator
Sunrise and sunset times are not fixed by the clock. They depend on latitude, longitude, the date, the tilt of Earth's axis, and the way the atmosphere bends light near the horizon. This calculator uses a precise solar ephemeris to find when the upper limb of the Sun would cross the horizon under standard refraction, and it also reports the three conventional twilight boundaries. Enter any place on Earth and any date to see the full daily solar schedule in your browser's time zone.
Why the times change through the year
Earth's axis is tilted by about 23.44 degrees relative to its orbital plane. As the planet travels around the Sun, the subsolar point migrates between the tropics. Higher latitudes receive longer days in their summer hemisphere and shorter days in winter, while the equator stays close to twelve hours year round. The effect is most extreme inside the polar circles, where the Sun can remain above or below the horizon for weeks or months. The dates of the earliest sunrise and latest sunset do not coincide exactly with the solstices because the analemma, the figure-eight pattern caused by orbital eccentricity and axial tilt, shifts solar noon slightly through the year.
Refraction and the visible horizon
The atmosphere acts like a weak lens. Light from the Sun is bent downward as it passes through air of increasing density, so the Sun appears slightly higher than its true geometric position. Standard refraction at the horizon is about 34 arcminutes, which is roughly the Sun's own apparent diameter. As a result, the Sun can be visible before its geometric disc has risen and after it has geometrically set. Observer altitude matters too: from a mountain or a tall building the horizon dips below level, and both sunrise and sunset occur earlier or later depending on the direction of the slope and the height above the surrounding terrain.
Civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight
- Civil twilight lasts until the Sun is 6° below the horizon. Outdoor activities remain possible without artificial light, and the brightest stars begin to appear.
- Nautical twilight ends at 12° below the horizon. The horizon is still faintly visible at sea, which historically allowed navigators to use sextants.
- Astronomical twilight ends at 18° below the horizon. The sky is dark enough for serious observation of faint nebulae and galaxies.
- In summer at high latitudes, the Sun may stay above one or more of these thresholds all night, producing the familiar white nights of northern Europe and Canada.
How to use the results
The daylight figure is the interval between sunrise and sunset. Solar noon is the moment when the Sun reaches its highest altitude, not necessarily 12:00 on the clock; the difference comes from time zone boundaries, daylight saving, and the equation of time. Azimuth values indicate the compass direction of the event, measured clockwise from true north. These are useful for planning photographs, positioning a solar panel, or choosing a campsite with shade in the afternoon. Remember that local terrain and buildings can hide the horizon long before the calculated time.
Frequently asked questions
Why do sunrise and sunset times differ from a weather app?
Apps use slightly different horizon definitions, refraction models, and elevation data. A difference of one or two minutes is normal. This tool uses the Sun's upper limb with standard refraction at sea level.
Why are there no sunrise or sunset times for some dates?
Inside the polar circles the Sun can stay above the horizon for the entire day or remain below it for the entire day. In that case the corresponding event does not occur, and the calculator reports polar day or polar night instead.
Does the calculator account for mountains or tall buildings?
No. It assumes a smooth sea-level horizon. A higher observer sees sunrise earlier and sunset later, while nearby terrain can block the Sun entirely. Use the observer height option in the Earth curvature calculator to estimate the geometric effect of elevation.