Sun & Moon · 28 free tools
Sunrise, Sunset and Moon Calculators
Sun and moon times depend on three inputs at once: location, date and time zone. Start with the sunrise and sunset calculator for the headline pair, use the day length calculator when the total hours of light matter more than the clock times, and open the moon rise and set calculator for the lunar equivalent.
The calculations follow the NOAA solar algorithm using the standard 90.833° zenith for sunrise and sunset, which accounts for atmospheric refraction and the sun's apparent radius. That convention is why the horizon looks slightly wrong in a valley but right on a sea horizon, and why a calculated moonset can be a few minutes out where terrain intrudes. Above the polar circles some events simply do not occur on a given date; the tools say so rather than inventing a time.
Photographers tend to want golden hour, civil twilight and shadow length rather than the sunrise minute itself — those are handled by the corresponding pages below. For the clock side of the same problem, including offsets and daylight-saving rules, use the time zone hub; for terrain and elevation context at the same location, the elevation tools are a useful companion.
Start with these
The three tools that answer the most common question in this cluster. Each page states its method, coverage and limits.
All sun & moon tools
Every tool in this cluster is linked from this page, so nothing here depends on a search box or a JavaScript menu to be reachable.
Sunrise and Sunset Calculator
PopularSunrise, sunset and solar noon for any place and date.
WorldwideMoon Phase Calculator
Moon phase, illumination and upcoming phases for any date.
WorldwideGolden Hour Calculator
PopularMorning and evening golden hour windows for any place and date.
WorldwideDay Night Map
PopularLive world map of day and night with the terminator line.
WorldwideMoonrise and Moonset Calculator
PopularEstimate moonrise, moonset, upper transit, phase and illumination for a place and date.
WorldwideAstronomical Twilight Calculator
Calculate approximate astronomical dawn and dusk for coordinates and date.
WorldwideCivil Twilight Calculator
Calculate approximate civil dawn and dusk for coordinates and date.
WorldwideCoastal Time & Sun Context
Plan coastal trips with sun times; pair with official tide tables.
WorldwideDay Length Calculator
Hours of daylight for any place and date.
WorldwideMoon Age Calculator
Estimate lunar age in days since the most recent mean new moon.
WorldwideMoon Illumination Calculator
Estimate the illuminated fraction of the Moon for a selected date.
WorldwideMoon Phase by Date
Estimate the Moon's phase name for a selected date.
WorldwideMoon Phase Calendar Map
A full month of moon phases and illumination, day by day.
WorldwideMoon Position Map
Where the Moon is up right now — live sublunar point.
WorldwideNautical Twilight Calculator
Calculate approximate nautical dawn and dusk for coordinates and date.
WorldwideNext Full Moon Calculator
Estimate the date of the next mean full moon after a selected date.
WorldwideNext New Moon Calculator
Estimate the date of the next mean new moon after a selected date.
WorldwidePolar Day / Night Checker
See extreme day length near the poles for a date and place.
WorldwideSeasons by Latitude
Relate latitude to seasonal sun behaviour and day length patterns.
WorldwideShadow Length Calculator
Estimate shadow length from object height and solar elevation.
WorldwideSolar Noon Calculator
Estimate solar noon from sunrise and sunset geometry for coordinates and date.
WorldwideSolar Position Calculator
Sun altitude and azimuth for any place and time.
WorldwideSolar Roof Potential Calculator
Estimate a roof's solar energy potential from its location and tilt.
WorldwideStar Chart Location Setup
Set your observing coordinates for astronomy apps and charts.
WorldwideSun Altitude Calculator
Estimate the Sun's altitude above or below the horizon for coordinates and UTC time.
WorldwideSun Azimuth Calculator
Estimate the Sun's compass azimuth for coordinates and UTC time.
WorldwideSunrise Direction Compass
See the compass direction of sunrise for a place and date.
WorldwideTime to Sunset Walk Planner
See sunset time and plan a walk that finishes before dark.
WorldwideLearn more about sun & moon
Guides explain the method behind these numbers, the cases where it misleads, and how to choose between two tools that look interchangeable.
- Chasing Golden Hour: A Photographer's Solar ToolkitGolden hour is an altitude band, not a fixed clock time. How to plan light with solar tools — windows, horizons and moon phase — instead of guessing.Read the guide →
- Full Moon Moonrise Times for 100 US Cities (2026–2027)Moonrise time for every full moon, Oct 2026–Dec 2027, for America's 100 largest cities — including a Christmas Eve 2026 supermoon.Read the guide →
You may also need
These clusters answer the questions that usually follow a sun and moon tools result.
About this hub
28 tools are grouped here because they answer the same family of questions. Every result is produced in your browser from the method stated on its own page; for legal, surveying, safety-critical or regulated decisions, verify the answer with the responsible authority.