sunrise - sunset
The sunrise and sunset calculator provides accurate solar times for any location, so you always know when daylight begins and ends. Explore an interactive sun path map, a precise sun position map, a detailed sunset map, and a complete sun path diagram to understand daily and seasonal sunlight changes with exact solar altitude and azimuth. Plan photography, gardening, travel, or outdoor events confidently using this reliable tool for any place on Earth.
After granting location permission, the system will automatically calculate the sun altitude angle for your location
💡 If no time is selected, defaults to 12:00 noon for sun altitude calculation
👈 Get location and click Calculate
Grant location permission to view the sun altitude angle for your current location
Sunrise & Sunset Calculator – Introduction and FAQ
About sunrise and sunset
Sunrise and sunset are the moments when the upper edge of the sun touches the horizon, and a sunrise sunset calculator uses precise astronomical algorithms to compute these times for any location on Earth. This tool provides not only the exact sunrise and sunset times but also a complete sun path diagram that charts the sun's altitude and azimuth throughout the day. With an interactive sun path map and a sun position map, you can see exactly where the sun will be at any hour, and a sunset map shows the exact point on the western horizon where the sun disappears. Whether you are planning a photography session, designing a garden, or simply curious about solar movement, understanding sunrise and sunset helps you make informed decisions. The calculator also provides civil dawn and dusk times, solar noon, and the sun's altitude and azimuth at any selected moment, giving you a comprehensive view of daily solar geometry. By studying these maps and diagrams, you can predict shadows, optimize solar panel placement, and choose the best times for outdoor activities. A sun path map is especially useful for architects and urban planners who need to evaluate how much direct sunlight a specific area receives during different seasons. The sunrise sunset calculator removes the guesswork from solar planning and gives you reliable data in seconds, making it a valuable resource for both professionals and hobbyists.
How to use sunrise sunset calculator
Using a sunrise sunset calculator is straightforward and takes only a few seconds. First, allow the tool to access your current location or manually enter latitude and longitude coordinates. Then select a date and an optional time, and click the calculate button. The calculator instantly generates sunrise and sunset times along with a sun path map, a sun position map, a sunset map, and a sun path diagram. The sun path map illustrates the full solar arc from dawn to dusk, while the sun position map shows the sun's exact position at your chosen hour. If you are planning an outdoor event or a photo shoot, you can use the sunset map to see where the sun will set relative to your viewpoint. For gardeners, the sun path diagram helps identify which areas receive full sun or shade throughout the year. The tool also provides solar altitude and azimuth angles, which are essential for adjusting solar panels or understanding shadow lengths. Whether you are a traveler, photographer, architect, or just someone who loves the outdoors, this sunrise sunset calculator gives you reliable solar data instantly. You can also change the date to see how the sun's path shifts from winter to summer, helping you plan for seasonal changes. The interactive maps update automatically, so you can explore different locations and times without any complex calculations.
sunrise and sunset with sun path map and sun position map knowledge
A sun path map and a sun position map are complementary tools that help you understand how the sun moves across the sky. A sun path diagram plots the sun's altitude and azimuth for every hour of daylight, while a sun path map projects this path onto a geographic map from your location. A sun position map can display the sun at a single moment, and a sunset map captures the exact point where the sun sets below the horizon. These visual tools are invaluable for predicting shadow lengths, optimizing solar panel angles, and planning photography. The sunrise and sunset times provided by a sunrise sunset calculator are derived from the same astronomical algorithms used by professional observatories, ensuring accuracy to within a minute for most locations. Solar declination, latitude, and atmospheric refraction all influence the exact moment of sunrise and sunset, and the calculator accounts for these factors automatically. By comparing the sun path map and sun position map across different seasons, you can see how the sun's path shifts north and south, affecting the duration of daylight. This knowledge is especially useful for architects designing buildings, urban planners, and anyone interested in solar energy. A sun path diagram is particularly helpful for understanding how the sun's altitude changes from sunrise to sunset, and a sun position map can show you the sun's location at any selected time, whether it is early morning, noon, or late afternoon.
FAQ: Where does the sun rise?
The exact point where the sun rises on the horizon depends on your latitude and the solar declination. The sun rises north of east in summer and south of east in winter, with due east occurring around the equinoxes. Use a sun position map or a sun path map to see the sunrise azimuth for any date, and a sunrise sunset calculator provides the exact compass bearing. A sun path diagram also marks the sunrise point on the daily arc, and a sunset map shows the corresponding evening point. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sunrise point moves gradually northward from December to June and then southward again, while in the Southern Hemisphere the pattern is reversed. Knowing where does the sun rise is useful for aligning a building's main entrance, planning a morning workout route, or simply enjoying the first light of day from your window. The calculator also provides the civil dawn time, which marks when the sky begins to brighten before sunrise, and this can help you plan early morning activities more precisely.
FAQ: Where does the sun set?
The sunset point shifts along the western horizon throughout the year, lying north of west in summer and south of west in winter. The sunset map in this calculator highlights the exact sunset azimuth, while the sun path diagram and sun path map include the sunset location as the end of the daily solar arc. A sun position map can display the sun's location just before it slips below the horizon, and a sunrise sunset calculator provides the sunset direction for any date. Knowing where does the sun set helps with aligning windows, planning outdoor events, and predicting evening light. Photographers often use the sunset map to scout locations where the setting sun aligns with a particular landmark or horizon feature. The calculator also gives the civil dusk time, which is the period after sunset when there is still enough light for most outdoor activities, allowing you to extend your planning into the evening hours. Just like sunrise, the sunset direction is governed by your latitude and the sun's declination, and it reaches its northernmost and southernmost points at the solstices.
FAQ: What direction does the sun rise?
The direction of sunrise varies by date and latitude. The calculator computes the sunrise azimuth and displays it on a sun position map or sun path diagram. Typically, the sun rises north of east from the March equinox to the September equinox, and south of east during the opposite half of the year. A sun path map shows this changing direction across the seasons, and the sunset map reveals the complementary evening shift. If you need to know what direction does the sun rise for a specific day, a sunrise sunset calculator gives an exact compass bearing, so you can plan your photography or architecture accordingly. On the equinoxes, the sun rises almost exactly due east for every location on Earth, except near the poles. The azimuth is measured clockwise from true north, so due east is 90 degrees, and this angle changes slightly each day as the sun's declination varies. For more detailed analysis, the sun position map can show the sun's path in real time or for any chosen hour, and the sun path diagram condenses the entire year into a single chart.
FAQ: What direction does the sun set?
The direction of sunset also changes with the seasons. The calculator provides the sunset azimuth, which you can view on a sunset map or a sun path map. Generally, the sun sets north of west in summer and south of west in winter. The sun path diagram includes the sunset point as the final segment of the daily arc, and the sun position map can show the sun's location just before sunset, helping you anticipate the last angle of light. When you need to know what direction does the sun set for an event, a sunrise sunset calculator offers precise values for any location and date. Around the equinoxes, the sun sets almost exactly due west, but it shifts significantly toward the northwest or southwest at the solstices. The sunset azimuth is measured clockwise from true north, with due west at 270 degrees, and this value is essential for aligning outdoor seating, sports fields, or even real estate views. A sunset map is especially useful for landscape photographers who want to capture the sun setting behind a particular mountain, building, or ocean horizon.