Sunrise & Sunset Calculator

Sunrise and sunset are the foundation everything else in Vedic timekeeping is built on — the day's length, the eight Choghadiya divisions, Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam, and the Abhijit Muhurat all derive directly from these two moments. This calculator computes them precisely for any date and location using a real solar ephemeris, not a rough approximation.

Standard altitude: -50' (accounts for atmospheric refraction and the solar disk's apparent radius) · Computed via precise solar ephemeris for the given date and place

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Creator

James Whitfield

Reviewers

Sarah Mitchell, M.A. in Cultural Astronomy & Astrology and Marcus Reynolds, Professional Astrologer & Astronomer

Based on 5 sources

127 people find this calculator helpful

Last updated: May 9, 2025

What Exactly Counts as "Sunrise"

Sunrise and sunset are defined as the moment the Sun's upper limb (not its center) crosses the visible horizon, and the calculation includes a standard correction of 50 arcminutes — combining the Sun's apparent angular radius (~16') and average atmospheric refraction near the horizon (~34') — the same convention used by virtually every astronomical almanac.

Why These Times Shift by Date and Place

Sunrise and sunset shift daily because Earth's axial tilt changes the Sun's declination through the year, and shift by location because latitude changes how steeply the Sun rises and sets and longitude shifts the local clock time of a given solar event — this calculator accounts for both precisely for your specific date and place.

The Foundation for Every Other Muhurta Calculator

Choghadiya divides the sunrise-to-sunset span into 8 equal day periods (and sunset-to-next-sunrise into 8 night periods); Rahu Kalam and Yamagandam are specific eighths of the daytime span; the Abhijit Muhurat centers on the sunrise-sunset midpoint. Every one of those calculators on this site runs this exact same sunrise/sunset computation internally.

Sunrise & Sunset Calculator FAQs

Why is sunrise defined by the Sun's upper edge, not its center?

Because that's the moment observers on the ground actually perceive as "sunrise" or "sunset" — the first/last visible sliver of the solar disk, which is the long-established astronomical convention.

Does this account for atmospheric refraction?

Yes — a standard 34-arcminute refraction correction is included, matching the convention used by national almanacs and most astronomical software.

Why do sunrise and sunset times differ from what my phone shows?

Small differences (usually under a minute) can arise from different refraction assumptions or elevation handling; larger differences usually mean a location or timezone mismatch — double-check the place you selected.

Can I use this for a date far in the future or past?

Yes — solar ephemeris calculations remain accurate across a very wide date range, far beyond typical use cases like planning an upcoming event.

Why does day length change throughout the year?

Earth's axial tilt (about 23.4°) means the Sun's path across the sky shifts through the year, lengthening days in local summer and shortening them in local winter — more dramatically the further you are from the equator.

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