The 6 fields and concepts you'll meet in the response — defined in plain English, each with a real example value.
The moment when the upper edge of the sun appears above the horizon.
Technically, sunrise occurs when the sun's upper limb is tangent to the horizon, accounting for atmospheric refraction which makes the sun visible slightly before its geometric rise. Times are location-specific and change daily.
The moment when the upper edge of the sun disappears below the horizon.
Sunset marks the end of daytime, though twilight continues afterward. Due to atmospheric refraction, the sun is actually about 0.5° below the geometric horizon at the moment of sunset. Sunset times vary by location and season.
The moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for a given location.
At solar noon, the sun is due south (Northern Hemisphere) or due north (Southern Hemisphere), and shadows point directly north or south. Solar noon rarely matches 12:00 clock time due to longitude within time zones.
The period when the sun is 0-6° below the horizon, providing enough light for outdoor activities.
Civil dawn begins when the sun is 6° below the horizon (before sunrise), and civil dusk ends when it reaches 6° below (after sunset). During this time, artificial lighting is not needed for most outdoor activities.
Exampledawn: "2025-12-16T06:56:02.774Z" (civil dawn)
The period when the sun is 6-12° below the horizon, allowing navigation by stars and horizon.
During nautical twilight, the horizon is visible at sea while stars are bright enough for celestial navigation. This period produces the deep blue "blue hour" lighting prized by photographers.
The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when sunlight is warm, soft, and ideal for photography.
Golden hour produces diffused lighting with warm orange/red tones due to sunlight passing through more atmosphere. The exact duration varies by latitude (longer at higher latitudes). Our API returns both morning golden hour end and evening golden hour start.
ExamplegoldenHour: "2025-12-16T16:24:12.613Z" (evening start)
