How to Calculate Sunrise Time & Plan Golden Hour Photography

1. 1

   Enter your location coordinates

   Sunrise and sunset times depend entirely on your latitude, longitude, and the date. Click 'Use My Location' to auto-detect via browser geolocation, or manually enter coordinates. For photography planning, save locations you frequently shoot at (e.g. a favourite beach at 34.05, -118.25 for Santa Monica). The calculation uses the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar algorithm accurate to ±1 minute.

2. 2

   Read sunrise, solar noon, and sunset

   Solar Insight Pro displays three key times for your date and location: (a) Civil Sunrise — when the upper limb of the Sun appears on the horizon, (b) Solar Noon — the moment the Sun reaches its highest altitude in the sky, and (c) Civil Sunset — when the Sun disappears below the horizon. Solar noon is not necessarily 12:00 PM clock time — it varies by up to ±15 minutes depending on your longitude within a time zone.

3. 3

   Find your golden hour and blue hour windows

   Golden hour is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset — when the Sun is between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. The light is soft, warm, and diffuse, ideal for portraits and landscapes. Blue hour immediately follows golden hour (Sun at -4° to -6°), producing deep blue twilight ideal for cityscapes. Switch to the Photography Mode tab to see countdown timers for the next golden hour and blue hour windows.

4. 4

   Plan around UV index and light intensity

   The light intensity curve shows a 24-hour solar intensity graph (0-100%) that helps you understand when shadows will be harsh (near solar noon) versus soft (near sunrise/sunset). The UV Index warning tells you if peak UV exposure is high — useful for outdoor event planning and midday photography sessions where you need to account for squinting subjects and harsh contrast.

FAQ

Why does solar noon differ from 12:00 on my clock?

Solar noon is the moment when the Sun crosses your local meridian — it depends purely on your longitude. Clock time is based on your time zone's standard meridian, which can be up to ±30 minutes off your actual longitude. For example, someone in western Spain (near -5° longitude) experiences solar noon nearly 90 minutes later than someone in eastern Poland (+23° longitude), even though both are in the CET time zone.

What exactly is golden hour, and why do photographers love it?

Golden hour occurs when the Sun is between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. Sunlight travels through more atmosphere at this angle, which scatters blue wavelengths (Rayleigh scattering) and passes warmer red/orange wavelengths. The result: soft, directional, warm light that creates long shadows and flattering skin tones. It's the 'magic hour' for portrait and landscape photography worldwide.

Does solar altitude affect UV exposure?

Yes — UV radiation peaks when the Sun is highest (around solar noon) and falls off significantly when the Sun is below 30° altitude. Solar Insight Pro includes a UV Index Warning that activates when peak UV is high for your date and latitude. For outdoor events at midday in summer, plan for shade or sunscreen.

Can I use Solar Insight Pro without an internet connection?

Yes. Once the page loads, all calculations run entirely in your browser using the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 algorithm. No server calls are made — your location coordinates are never sent anywhere. You can use it offline in the field when scouting photography locations.