What Time Is Sunrise Guide

Sunrise is officially defined as the moment when the (top edge) of the Sun first appears on the horizon. However, the exact time this occurs is not a fixed universal constant; it is a moving target that shifts every day based on where you are on Earth and the time of year. The Mechanics of Sunrise Time

Begins when the sun is 6° below the horizon. This is when there is enough light to see clearly without artificial lamps. what time is sunrise

Because we measure from the center but "see" the top edge first. Sunrise is officially defined as the moment when

You can get the exact sunrise time for your specific location using tools like the Time and Date Sunrise Calculator or the US Naval Observatory's Data Portal . For example, as of April 29, 2026, the sunrise in is at 6:47 AM , while in New York City it is 5:58 AM . This is when there is enough light to

Starts when the sun is 12° below the horizon (the horizon is visible at sea).

Many people confuse "dawn" with "sunrise," but they are distinct stages of morning light:

Due to the Earth's tilted axis and elliptical orbit, our clocks (which run at a constant speed) and the Sun (which appears to move at varying speeds) don't always match. This is why the earliest sunrise of the year doesn't actually fall on the summer solstice. Dawn vs. Sunrise