What time does the sun rise in Cape Town today?

Today's sunrise and sunset times for Cape Town are calculated using your device's location or the coordinates you enter. The times depend on Cape Town's latitude (-33.9°) and the current date. Solar Insight Pro uses the USNO algorithm accurate to ±1 minute. Enter Cape Town as your location above and select today's date to see the exact sunrise, sunset, solar noon, golden hour, and blue hour times.

When is golden hour in Cape Town?

Golden hour at Cape Town occurs during the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon. At Cape Town's latitude (-33.9°), golden hour lasts approximately 28–40 minutes. During summer months, the longer twilight at this latitude extends the golden hour window compared to equatorial locations. Open the Photography Mode tab to see countdown timers for the next golden hour and blue hour windows.

How does Cape Town's latitude affect daylight hours?

Cape Town at latitude -33.9° experiences significant seasonal variation in daylight. Summer days reach approximately 9.7h of daylight at the solstice, while winter days drop to approximately 9.7h — a 0.0h difference between seasons. The sun's maximum altitude ranges from 79.5° in summer to 32.6° in winter. This mid-latitude pattern is why Cape Town has such pronounced seasonal changes in sunrise and sunset times compared to locations near the equator.

How accurate are sunrise times for Cape Town?

Sunrise and sunset calculations for Cape Town use the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar position algorithm, verified against the USNO Astronomical Almanac. Accuracy is ±1 minute for dates between 1901–2099. The algorithm accounts for atmospheric refraction (34 arcminutes at the horizon) and uses Cape Town's precise coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°). For sub-second astrometric accuracy, consult the USNO data service directly. — Solar Insight Pro, fastool.io

Solar data for Cape Town

Sunrise Time Cape Town — Solar Insight · FastTool

05:52

Sunrise

15:46

Sunset

9h 53.49551666666662m

Daylight

1h 6.087050000000005m

Golden Hour

Solar Insight Pro

سولار إنسايت برو — حاسبة الساعة الذهبية والشروق والغروب

حساب دقيق لضوء الشمس للمصورين والحياة اليومية

اختر التاريخ

-33.9249°N / 18.4241°E

منحنى شدة الضوء

شدة شمسية على 24 ساعة

Summer Solstice (Jun 21)Winter Solstice (Dec 21)

🌅 الشروق: 05:52 ص🌇 الغروب: 03:46 م🌞 الظهر: 10:49 ص

وضع التصوير

الارتفاع: -16.9°السمت: 72.7°الشروق: 05:52 صالغروب: 03:46 م

الساعة الذهبية

Sun altitude −4° to 6° — soft, warm golden light

05:24 ص–06:31 ص

Starts in 57m

الساعة الزرقاء

Sun altitude −6° to −4° — deep blue twilight

04:53 ص–05:24 ص

Starts in 26m

رؤى حياتية

Laundry Index

Moderate — some effective sunlight

5.8 effective hours (altitude > 20°)

تحذير UV

لا خطر UV

Altitude: ‎-16.9°

Home Daylight

Very limited daylight today

Today's max altitude vs. Winter Solstice: 32.6° vs 32.6°

How Solar Calculations Work at Cape Town's Latitude

Latitude & Daylight at Cape Town

Cape Town sits at latitude -33.9°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 9.7h in summer (solstice) to 9.7h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 79.5° at summer solstice and a minimum of 32.6° at winter solstice. This mid-latitude profile is what shapes Cape Town's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

NOAA Solar Position Calculator

Golden Hour Photography at Cape Town

Golden hour at Cape Town occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At Cape Town's latitude, morning golden hour typically starts in the hour after sunrise and lasts approximately 28–40 minutes. Evening golden hour mirrors this before sunset. The longer twilight at this latitude gives photographers more time to capture the 'magic hour' compared to equatorial locations where the sun sets more steeply.

Wikipedia: Golden Hour (Photography)

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at Cape Town

UV radiation at Cape Town peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At -33.9° latitude, peak UV levels vary significantly by season: summer months see UV indices of 6–9 (high), while winter months typically register 1–3 (low). The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when UV index exceeds 3. At Cape Town's latitude, this threshold is exceeded for approximately 6–8 months per year, making sun awareness a year-round consideration for outdoor workers and athletes.

WHO UV Index Guide

How We Calculate Solar Data for Cape Town

All solar calculations for Cape Town use the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar position algorithm with bisection iteration, accurate to ±1 minute for dates between 1901–2099. Sunrise and sunset times define the moment the upper limb of the sun appears on the horizon, accounting for atmospheric refraction. Daily data is calculated client-side from Cape Town's coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.

US Naval Observatory — Sun & Moon Data

30-Day Observation Planner

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Twilight End	Moon Illum.	Dark Window
Jun 22Today	05:52	15:46	17:14	50%	11h 7m
Jun 23	05:52	15:46	17:14	61%	11h 7m
Jun 24	05:53	15:46	17:15	70%	11h 7m
Jun 25	05:53	15:46	17:15	79%	11h 7m
Jun 26	05:53	15:47	17:15	86%	11h 7m
Jun 27	05:53	15:47	17:16	92%	11h 7m
Jun 28	05:53	15:47	17:16	96%	11h 7m
Jun 29	05:53	15:48	17:16	99%	11h 6m
Jun 30	05:53	15:48	17:17	100%	11h 6m
Jul 1	05:53	15:49	17:17	99%	11h 6m
Jul 2	05:53	15:49	17:17	96%	11h 5m
Jul 3	05:53	15:49	17:18	92%	11h 5m
Jul 4	05:53	15:50	17:18	86%	11h 4m
Jul 5	05:53	15:50	17:19	77%	11h 4m
Jul 6	05:52	15:51	17:19	68%	11h 3m
Jul 7	05:52	15:51	17:19	57%	11h 3m
Jul 8	05:52	15:52	17:20	46%	11h 2m
Jul 9	05:52	15:52	17:20	35%	11h 2m
Jul 10	05:52	15:53	17:21	25%	11h 1m
Jul 11	05:51	15:53	17:21	15%	11h 1m
Jul 12	05:51	15:54	17:22	8%	10h 60m
Jul 13	05:51	15:54	17:22	3%	10h 59m
Jul 14	05:50	15:55	17:23	0%	10h 58m
Jul 15	05:50	15:56	17:23	1%	10h 58m
Jul 16	05:50	15:56	17:24	4%	10h 57m
Jul 17	05:49	15:57	17:24	9%	10h 56m
Jul 18	05:49	15:57	17:25	17%	10h 55m
Jul 19	05:48	15:58	17:25	25%	10h 54m
Jul 20	05:48	15:59	17:26	35%	10h 53m
Jul 21	05:47	15:59	17:26	45%	10h 52m

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Data in Cape Town

What time does the sun rise in Cape Town today?: Today's sunrise and sunset times for Cape Town are calculated using your device's location or the coordinates you enter. The times depend on Cape Town's latitude (-33.9°) and the current date. Solar Insight Pro uses the USNO algorithm accurate to ±1 minute. Enter Cape Town as your location above and select today's date to see the exact sunrise, sunset, solar noon, golden hour, and blue hour times.
When is golden hour in Cape Town?: Golden hour at Cape Town occurs during the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon. At Cape Town's latitude (-33.9°), golden hour lasts approximately 28–40 minutes. During summer months, the longer twilight at this latitude extends the golden hour window compared to equatorial locations. Open the Photography Mode tab to see countdown timers for the next golden hour and blue hour windows.
How does Cape Town's latitude affect daylight hours?: Cape Town at latitude -33.9° experiences significant seasonal variation in daylight. Summer days reach approximately 9.7h of daylight at the solstice, while winter days drop to approximately 9.7h — a 0.0h difference between seasons. The sun's maximum altitude ranges from 79.5° in summer to 32.6° in winter. This mid-latitude pattern is why Cape Town has such pronounced seasonal changes in sunrise and sunset times compared to locations near the equator.
How accurate are sunrise times for Cape Town?: Sunrise and sunset calculations for Cape Town use the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar position algorithm, verified against the USNO Astronomical Almanac. Accuracy is ±1 minute for dates between 1901–2099. The algorithm accounts for atmospheric refraction (34 arcminutes at the horizon) and uses Cape Town's precise coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°). For sub-second astrometric accuracy, consult the USNO data service directly. — Solar Insight Pro, fastool.io