How accurate is this calculator?

This simplified solar calculator is accurate to within 5–10 minutes for most locations and dates. For precise times, use a dedicated astronomical almanac. The approximation is excellent for travel planning purposes.

Why do sunrise/sunset times vary by location?

Earth's tilted axis means different latitudes receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. Higher latitudes have more extreme seasonal variation. Longitude determines where you are within your time zone, shifting times by minutes.

What is the longest day of the year?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice (June 20–21) has the longest daylight. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's December 21–22. Near the equator, day length varies only about 30 minutes throughout the year.

Do mountains affect sunrise and sunset?

Yes. If you're in a valley surrounded by mountains, the visible sunrise is later and sunset earlier than the calculated times. Conversely, being on a mountain peak extends your visible daylight.

What about polar regions?

Above the Arctic Circle (66.5°N) and below the Antarctic Circle (66.5°S), there are periods of 24-hour daylight (midnight sun) and 24-hour darkness (polar night). The calculator will show this as no sunrise or sunset.

Does Daylight Saving Time affect these calculations?

Yes. DST shifts all clock times by 1 hour. If your destination observes DST, adjust the timezone offset accordingly. For example, US Eastern is UTC-5 in winter (EST) and UTC-4 in summer (EDT).

Sunrise & Sunset Calculator

Calculate sunrise and sunset times from latitude, longitude, and date using solar position formulas. Plan photography and outdoor activities.

Latitude

Longitude

UTC Offset

Day of Year (1–365)

Sunrise

4:28 AM

Approximate local time

Sunset

7:24 PM

Approximate local time

Daylight Hours

14.90 hrs

Total hours of sunlight

Planning notes, formulas, and examples

About the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator

Sunrise and sunset times shape what a travel day can hold, especially when you are planning photography, hiking, beach time, or a scenic drive. Those times shift meaningfully with latitude, longitude, and season, so the same activity window can look very different from one destination to another.

This calculator estimates sunrise and sunset from location and date so you can map the usable light around a specific trip rather than relying on assumptions from home. It is useful when a schedule depends on early starts, late light, or the timing of a specific scene.

The result is intended for planning, not observatory-grade precision. It gives you a practical reference point for when daylight begins and ends at the destination you are considering.

When This Page Helps

Light timing matters when an itinerary depends on first light, sunset, or the amount of usable daylight in between. This page helps you anchor those plans to the destination and season instead of guessing from broad daylight-hour averages.

How to Use the Inputs

Enter the latitude of your destination (positive = North, negative = South).
Enter the longitude (positive = East, negative = West).
Enter the timezone offset from UTC.
Enter the day of year (1–365) or the month and day.
Review estimated sunrise and sunset times.

Formula used

Solar Declination δ = 23.45° × sin(360/365 × (284 + day))
Hour Angle = arccos(−tan(lat) × tan(δ))
Sunrise = 12:00 − HourAngle/15 − longitude/15 + timezone
Sunset = 12:00 + HourAngle/15 − longitude/15 + timezone

Example Calculation

Result: Sunrise: ~5:25 AM, Sunset: ~8:31 PM

New York City (40.7°N, 74°W) on June 21st (day 172). Near the summer solstice, NYC gets about 15 hours of daylight with an early sunrise and late sunset.

Tips & Best Practices

Locations near the equator have nearly consistent 12-hour days year-round.
At high latitudes (60°+), summer days can last 18–24 hours while winter days are very short.
Mountains and tall buildings can delay visible sunrise and advance visible sunset by 10–20 minutes.
Sunrise is about 30 minutes earlier and sunset 30 minutes later than the simple formula suggests due to refraction.
For photography, arrive 30 minutes before calculated sunrise for best conditions.

How Solar Calculations Work

The sun's position is determined by Earth's orbital position (day of year) and the observer's location (latitude/longitude). Solar declination changes throughout the year as Earth orbits the sun, ranging from +23.45° at summer solstice to −23.45° at winter solstice.

Travel Photography Planning

The best light for photography occurs during golden hour (first/last hour of sunlight) and blue hour (30 minutes before sunrise / after sunset). Knowing exact sunrise/sunset times at your destination lets you plan shoots for optimal conditions.

Seasonal Daylight Variation

At the equator: ~12 hours year-round. At 40° latitude: 9–15 hours. At 60°: 6–18 hours. At the Arctic Circle: 0–24 hours. This dramatic variation significantly affects travel planning, especially for outdoor activities.

Sources & Methodology

Last updated: February 9, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This simplified solar calculator is accurate to within 5–10 minutes for most locations and dates. For precise times, use a dedicated astronomical almanac. The approximation is excellent for travel planning purposes.