Sunrise/Sunset Calculator

Clock time is standardized across time zones covering 15° of longitude. Depending on your position within the zone, solar noon can vary by up to ±30 minutes from clock noon. The equation of time adds another ±16 minutes of seasonal variation.

The equation of time is a seasonal correction accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt. It causes apparent solar noon to deviate from clock noon by up to 16 minutes depending on the time of year. The calculator includes this correction for more accurate results.

Civil twilight is the period after sunset (or before sunrise) when the Sun is less than 6° below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is enough ambient light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (Sun 6-12° below) and astronomical twilight (12-18°) follow progressively.

Earth's axial tilt of 23.5° means the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun in summer — the Sun rises higher in the sky, takes a longer arc across it, and is above the horizon for more hours. The Southern Hemisphere experiences opposite seasons simultaneously.

The golden hour is the period approximately one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset when sunlight is warm, soft, and directional. It is the most prized light for landscape, portrait, and architectural photography. This calculator's sunrise/sunset times directly define the golden hour window.

Yes, by 1-2 minutes daily near the equinoxes (fastest change) and less than a minute daily near the solstices (slowest change). This is why daylight accumulates rapidly in spring and diminishes rapidly in autumn at mid-latitudes.

Use your current UTC offset including any daylight saving adjustment. In the US Eastern timezone: -5 (standard time, Nov-Mar) or -4 (daylight saving, Mar-Nov). Central: -6/-5. Mountain: -7/-6. Pacific: -8/-7. European Central: +1/+2. Check a world clock website for your exact current offset.

Above the Arctic Circle (66.5°N) and below the Antarctic Circle (66.5°S), the sun does not rise or set for days or weeks near the respective solstice. This calculator is designed for latitudes between -66° and +66° where standard sunrise/sunset occurs year-round.

Results are accurate to within approximately 3-5 minutes for most mid-latitude dates. Accuracy decreases near the solstices at high latitudes and does not account for local horizon elevation, atmospheric refraction variations, or daylight saving time rule complexities.