Sunrise & Sunset Calculator
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Note: Calculations are approximate. For precise astronomical data, consult official sources.
Sunrise & Sunset Calculator — Accurate Solar Times & Daylight Insight
Sunrise and sunset times are essential for astronomy, planning activities, energy modeling, photography, and more. Our calculator not only provides those times but explains how they’re computed, what influences them, and how to interpret special cases like polar day/night.
How Sunrise & Sunset Are Calculated
Astronomical model basics
Use formulas based on solar declination, equation of time, and observer latitude/longitude to compute hour angle at horizon. Adjust for atmospheric refraction and solar disk size (official sunrise accounts for the upper limb)Refraction & solar disk correction
Because of atmospheric bending, the sun appears slightly above horizon even before geometric sunrise. Standard correction ~ –0.833° is often used.Time zone, longitude correction & equation of time
Convert local solar time to clock time by accounting for time zones, longitude offset within zone, and seasonal eccentricity (the equation of time correction).Daylight duration
Subtract sunrise time from sunset gives total daylight hours.
We implement widely accepted astronomical formulae (e.g. NOAA Solar Calculator models) for robust accuracy.
Things That Influence Sunrise & Sunset Times
Latitude & season: High latitudes see dramatic shifts and polar day/night.
Elevation above sea level: Elevated sites see earlier sunrise and later sunset (less atmosphere).
Twilight definitions: Civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight extend light beyond official sunrise/sunset times.
Atmospheric conditions: Temperature, pressure can shift refraction; heavy haze or meteorological conditions can affect perceived times.
Daylight Saving Time & local offsets.
Special Cases & Edge Conditions
Polar day / midnight sun: In summer above the Arctic/Antarctic circles, the sun may never fully set—so the calculator should detect and label “sun never sets” or “polar night.”
Twilight-only daylight: During winter, in extreme latitudes, there may be no official sunrise/sunset but twilight periods occur—our tool can optionally compute twilight start/end.
Equinox behavior: At the equator or on equinoxes, day and night are equal ~12h.
How to Use the Calculator — User Guidance
Enter latitude, longitude (or city name lookup)
Select date and timezone / daylight saving
Optionally specify elevation or toggle twilight modes
The tool outputs: sunrise time, sunset time, daylight length, optionally twilight intervals
Encourage user to validate using known reference sites (NOAA, timeanddate.com) for cross-checking.
FAQ (to implement FAQ schema)
Why does my sunrise differ by a few minutes from other sites?
Differences arise from elevation, atmospheric refraction assumptions, input precision, or twilight definition.Does elevation matter?
Yes—higher elevation reduces atmospheric path, slightly advancing sunrise and delaying sunset.Can this calculate twilight times?
Yes—optionally compute civil, nautical, or astronomical twilight start/stop times.What happens in polar regions?
In polar summer/winter, the sun may not set/rise. We detect and label those as “No sunset/no sunrise” for that date.
Summary & Authority Reinforcement
By combining a robust sunrise/sunset calculator with clear explanations of algorithms, edge cases, visualizations, and authority citations (NOAA, USNO, astronomical almanacs), your page will surpass basic tools in both trust and usefulness.
You’ll be giving users not just times, but understanding—and search engines will reward depth, clarity, and EEAT alignment.
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