Ready to calculate
Enter a location and date, then click Calculate// calculate sunrise, sunset & golden hour for any location
Calculate exact sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, and golden hour times for any location and date. Free browser-based sun position calculator.
Ready to calculate
Enter a location and date, then click CalculateType a city name or click ⊕ to use your current GPS location. You can also enter latitude/longitude directly.
Select any date — past, present, or future. Defaults to today's date automatically.
Click Calculate to instantly see sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and all twilight phases with a visual sun arc.
The Sunrise & Sunset Calculator uses the NOAA solar position algorithm to compute the exact moment the sun crosses the horizon for any location on Earth. It also breaks down civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight phases — key for photographers and astronomers alike.
Golden hour refers to the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when sunlight is soft, warm, and directional. It typically lasts 20–60 minutes depending on your latitude and season, creating flattering light for portraits and landscapes.
Civil twilight occurs when the sun is 0–6° below the horizon — bright enough to see without artificial light. Nautical twilight is 6–12° below (horizon barely visible at sea). Astronomical twilight is 12–18° below — beyond this point the sky is fully dark for stargazing.
This tool uses the NOAA solar calculator algorithm, which is accurate to within a minute for most locations. Atmospheric refraction (which bends light near the horizon) is accounted for using the standard 0.833° correction.
Earth's axial tilt means higher latitudes experience dramatic seasonal changes. At the poles, the sun can stay above or below the horizon for days or months. Near the equator, day length stays close to 12 hours year-round.
Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky — directly south (in the northern hemisphere) or north (in the southern hemisphere). It is not always at 12:00 PM clock time due to time zones and the equation of time.
Blue hour is the twilight period just before sunrise and just after sunset when the sky takes on a deep blue hue. Technically it corresponds to civil twilight, when the sun is between 4–6° below the horizon. It lasts about 20–40 minutes.
Yes! The algorithm works for any date. Note that for very distant past or future dates (centuries away), the Earth's orbital parameters change slightly, so results may be less precise. For practical purposes, any date within a few centuries is reliable.
All solar calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript — no server requests are made. Once the page loads, you can use it offline. The only feature requiring internet is geocoding (looking up location names).
Whether you're a photographer planning the perfect golden hour shoot, a hiker checking how long daylight will last, or an astronomer timing your observations, knowing precise sunrise and sunset times is essential. Our free Sunrise & Sunset Calculator delivers accurate sun position data for any location on Earth and any date you choose — no sign-up required, no software to install.
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Our calculator uses the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) solar calculator algorithm, based on equations from the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus. The algorithm accounts for:
The result is sunrise and sunset times accurate to within one minute for nearly all inhabited locations on Earth.
The transition between day and night is not instantaneous — it unfolds through several twilight phases, each with distinct lighting characteristics that matter for different activities.
Astronomical Twilight begins when the sun is 18° below the horizon. Before this point (at night), the sky is completely dark and ideal for deep-sky astronomical observation. The faintest stars and nebulae become visible only during astronomical night.
Nautical Twilight occurs when the sun is between 12° and 18° below the horizon. Historically, this phase was used by sailors to navigate — the horizon is still visible, and bright stars can be seen, allowing celestial navigation with a sextant.
Civil Twilight is the brightest twilight phase, with the sun between 0° and 6° below the horizon. There is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. This is also the phase that encompasses the famous "blue hour."
Golden hour is arguably the most sought-after natural lighting condition in photography. It occurs in two windows: the period after sunrise and the period before sunset. During these times, sunlight travels through a greater thickness of atmosphere, which scatters blue wavelengths and lets warm orange and red tones dominate.
The practical duration of golden hour varies dramatically by location and season. Near the equator, the sun rises and sets nearly vertically, making golden hour brief — sometimes just 20–30 minutes. At higher latitudes, the sun rises and sets at a shallower angle, extending golden hour to 45 minutes or more. Near the Arctic Circle in summer, golden hour can last for hours.
Blue hour is the counterpart to golden hour. It occurs during civil twilight — approximately 20–40 minutes before sunrise and after sunset. The sky takes on a deep, saturated blue that provides a beautiful backdrop for city lights, architecture, and landscapes. Blue hour is particularly prized for urban photography because artificial lights balance naturally with the ambient sky brightness.
Solar noon is the moment when the sun crosses the local meridian and reaches its maximum altitude for the day. Contrary to popular belief, solar noon is rarely at 12:00 PM clock time. It can occur anywhere from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM depending on your position within your time zone and the time of year. During solar noon, shadows are at their shortest and sunlight is most intense — factors that matter for solar panel efficiency, shadow-free photography, and architectural sun studies.
Day length changes continuously throughout the year, driven by Earth's axial tilt. At the equinoxes (around March 20 and September 23), day and night are nearly equal in length everywhere on Earth. At the summer solstice (around June 21 in the northern hemisphere), day length is at its maximum. At the winter solstice (around December 21), it's at its minimum.
The rate of change is fastest near the equinoxes — day length can change by 2–3 minutes per day in mid-latitudes — and slowest near the solstices, where it barely changes for several weeks.
Knowing exact sun times has applications far beyond photography:
You may notice slight differences (1–3 minutes) between our calculator and other sources. These differences usually come from: the atmospheric refraction model used, the precision of the algorithm, rounding in time zone offset application, and whether the calculation uses the center or upper limb of the sun disk. Our tool uses the upper limb and a standard refraction correction of 0.833°, matching NOAA's official calculator.