When Is Sunset and Sunrise Today? How to Find Local Sun Times

Sunrise and sunset times for your location depend on latitude, longitude, date, time zone, and daylight saving rules — so there is no single global answer to when is sunset or when is sunrise. To get today's times, use a location-aware tool such as your phone weather app, [timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com), or a NOAA solar calculator after confirming your city or GPS coordinates. Times shift by a minute or more daily near solstices and equinoxes.

Why Sun Times Change Every Day

Earth tilts on its axis and orbits the Sun. Combined effects:

• Season — longer days in summer (northern hemisphere), shorter in winter
• Latitude — polar regions get midnight sun or polar night; equatorial zones see smaller seasonal swings
• Time zone boundaries — two cities at similar latitude but different longitudes can differ by an hour or more
• Daylight saving time (DST) — clocks jump; sun times in local clock terms move accordingly
• Horizon obstacles — mountains and buildings delay apparent sunrise and sunset versus calculated times for a flat horizon

Published tables assume an unobstructed horizon unless noted otherwise.

Fastest Ways to Look Up Today's Times

Phone weather app

Apple Weather, Google Weather, and most carrier apps show today's sunrise and sunset when location services are enabled. Tap the day detail view if times are hidden on the summary card.

timeanddate.com

Enter your city or allow browser location. The site lists:

• Sunrise / sunset in local time
• Day length and solar noon
• Civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight — useful for photographers and pilots

Bookmark your city page for one-click checks.

Dedicated sun apps

Apps like Sun Surveyor, PhotoPills, and The Photographer's Ephemeris map sun angle and golden hour windows — valuable when timing outdoor shoots matters to the minute.

NOAA Solar Calculator

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers a [solar calculator](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/) for US-centric precision using coordinates. Enter decimal latitude/longitude for research-grade tables.

Understanding the Terms

| Term | Meaning |

|------|---------|

| Sunrise | Sun's upper edge crosses the horizon (morning) |

| Sunset | Sun's upper edge dips below the horizon (evening) |

| Solar noon | Sun highest in sky; not always 12:00 clock time |

| Golden hour | Soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset |

| Civil twilight | Enough light for outdoor activities without streetlights |

| Day length | Time between sunrise and sunset |

Photographers chase golden hour; runners may prefer civil dawn for cooler temperatures.

Factors That Affect What You Actually See

Atmospheric refraction

Earth's atmosphere bends light slightly, making the Sun appear above the horizon when geometrically it is still below. Calculators account for standard refraction; unusual weather can subtly shift appearance.

Elevation

Higher altitude extends visible horizon distance — sunrise arrives earlier and sunset later on mountaintops compared with sea level nearby.

Urban canyons

Skyscrapers block low-angle sun in cities. A calculated 6:42 p.m. sunset might feel later standing on a west-facing avenue.

Seasonal Patterns (Northern Hemisphere)

• June solstice — latest sunsets, earliest sunrises cluster around summer (exact ordering varies by latitude)
• December solstice — shortest day; late sunrises and early sunsets
• Equinoxes (March & September) — day and night roughly equal globally

Southern hemisphere seasons reverse. Travelers should reset expectations when crossing the equator.

Planning Around Sun Times

Outdoor events: Schedule ceremonies an hour before sunset for comfortable light and photos.

Driving: Note dusk — collision risk rises when the sun sits low on the horizon.

Solar panels: Peak output tracks solar noon, not sunrise — installers use year-round sun path models.

Religious practice: Some traditions tie prayers to dawn or dusk astronomical definitions — verify which twilight standard your community uses.

Why People Search Sunset and Sunrise Together

Queries pair when is sunset and sunrise because both anchor daily rhythm — fitness schedules, fishing regulations, fasting windows, and travel photography. Search engines often show combined widgets when location is known.

If only one time appears in results, open the full daily almanac — sunset without sunrise hides day length context useful for planning.

Setting Alerts

iOS Calendar and Android Clock support location-based reminders indirectly through third-party apps. Weather apps sometimes notify UV index peaks near solar noon — related but not identical to sunset alerts.

Daylight Saving Transitions and Sun-Time Confusion

When clocks spring forward or fall back, published sunrise and sunset times jump by roughly one hour in local civil time even though Earth's geometry changes only gradually. People searching when is sunset the week after DST often think the season shifted dramatically — it is mostly a label change.

Arizona (most of the state), Hawaii, and many territories skip DST, so sun tables differ from neighboring states. Always select the correct region in lookup tools after travel.

FAQ

When is sunset today?

It depends on your location and date. Open a weather app or timeanddate.com with your city selected.

Why is sunset later in summer?

Earth's tilt and orbit lengthen daylight in your hemisphere's summer — exact patterns vary by latitude.

Are app sun times accurate?

Generally yes for standard horizon calculations; terrain and buildings change what you see.

What is golden hour?

Roughly the first hour after sunrise and last hour before sunset — soft, warm light prized in photography.

Do sunrise and sunset shift after daylight saving changes?

Local clock times jump when DST starts or ends; sun times in UTC stay continuous — only labels change.

The Takeaway

To find when sunset and sunrise occur, use location-based tools — phone weather, timeanddate.com, or NOAA's solar calculator — and remember times move daily with season, latitude, and time zone. For photography or outdoor safety, also note twilight definitions and local horizon obstacles.

*This article is for general informational purposes only.*