How accurate are these calculations?

NOAA describes theoretical sunrise and sunset accuracy of about one minute between ±72° latitude and about ten minutes outside that range. Actual observed times can differ because refraction changes with atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, elevation, and the local horizon. NOAA/GML no longer actively maintains or certifies its calculator.

Where do I find my latitude and longitude?

You can find your coordinates in Google Maps (right-click your location) or in your phone's Maps app. Latitude ranges from -90 (South Pole) to +90 (North Pole); longitude from -180 to +180.

Solar noon is the moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the day — exactly halfway between sunrise and sunset. It is not always 12:00 PM clock time due to timezone boundaries and the equation of time.

What are the three twilight phases?

Civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight use the Sun center at 6°, 12°, and 18° below the horizon respectively. This calculator reports the dawn and dusk boundary for each phase.

How is golden hour defined?

Golden hour is a photography term without one official definition. This tool labels and uses a solar-elevation convention rather than assuming it always lasts 60 minutes. Its duration changes with latitude and season.

What happens at extreme latitudes?

Near the poles, there are periods of midnight sun (no sunset) or polar night (no sunrise). The tool will display a message indicating these conditions rather than showing invalid times.

Does this account for daylight saving time?

The tool uses a manual UTC offset that you set. You are responsible for entering the correct offset for your location, including any daylight saving time adjustment in effect for your chosen date.

Sunrise Sunset Calculator

Enter coordinates, date, and UTC offset to estimate sunrise, sunset, solar noon, day length, photography light bands, and all three twilight phases in your browser.

Location & Date

Latitude

-90 (S) to 90 (N)

Longitude

-180 (W) to 180 (E)

Date

UTC Offset (hours)

Quick Presets

Enter a location and date, then click Calculate.

Midnight Midnight

Sunrise

--:--

Civil dawn: --:--

Solar Noon

--:--

Max elevation: --

Sunset

--:--

Civil dusk: --:--

Day Length

--h --m

Night: --h --m

Twilight boundaries

Civil · −6°

Dawn: --:--

Dusk: --:--

Nautical · −12°

Dawn: --:--

Dusk: --:--

Astronomical · −18°

Dawn: --:--

Dusk: --:--

Photography light bands

Convention used here: golden −4° to +6°; blue −6° to −4° solar elevation. Golden hour has no single official definition.

Morning

Blue hour:

Golden hour:

Evening

Golden hour:

Blue hour:

Calculated locally in your browser from NOAA-documented equations. NOAA/GML no longer maintains or certifies its calculator; atmosphere, terrain and horizon obstructions can change observed times. Twilight definitions follow the U.S. Naval Observatory. Photography bands are conventions, not official standards.

Summary

Enter coordinates, date, and UTC offset to estimate sunrise, sunset, solar noon, day length, photography light bands, and all three twilight phases in your browser.

How it works

Enter the latitude and longitude of your location (positive = North/East, negative = South/West).
Select the date you want to calculate solar times for.
Choose your UTC offset to display times in your local timezone.
Click "Calculate" — the tool runs the NOAA solar algorithm in your browser.
Results show sunrise, solar noon, sunset, day length, and civil twilight times.

Use cases

Plan outdoor photography around golden hour and blue hour.
Determine daylight hours for any location and date before traveling.
Calculate solar noon for accurate sundial or solar panel alignment.
Find sunrise/sunset for historical or future dates for research.
Plan hiking, camping, or sailing trips with accurate daylight windows.
Verify solar data for energy production estimates.
Check civil twilight times for aviation or maritime planning.
Compare day lengths across seasons or latitudes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu

Sunrise Sunset Calculator

Use the Sunrise Sunset Calculator

Location & Date

Twilight boundaries

Photography light bands

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions