Knowing the precise sunset time today is valuable for various activities, from planning outdoor photography to simply enjoying twilight. This page provides resources and information to help you determine the exact sunset time for your location.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers tools to calculate sunrise and sunset times. An older version of their calculator exists, but it uses a non-standard definition of longitude and time zone. This older system defines both as positive west, contrary to the international standard of positive east of the Prime Meridian.
NOAA maintains this legacy calculator for users familiar with its unique conventions. However, for accurate and standardised results, use the updated NOAA Solar Calculator. This newer version adheres to international standards and offers a more straightforward user experience.
To find today’s sunset time using the updated calculator, input your location. Select your city from a dropdown menu or manually enter your latitude and longitude coordinates. Remember, latitude is positive in the Northern Hemisphere and negative in the Southern Hemisphere. Longitude is positive east of the Prime Meridian and negative west.
Consider Daylight Saving Time. Enabling this option in the calculator adjusts the calculated sunrise, sunset, and solar noon times forward by one hour. If unsure about your time zone, consult a reliable time zone resource. The calculator allows you to input a specific date for calculations; by default, it uses the current date from your computer. To calculate for a different day, enter the desired month, day, and year.
For regions above the Arctic Circle or below the Antarctic Circle, the calculator provides special functionality. If a sunrise or sunset doesn’t occur on a given day, it will determine the most recent sunrise or sunset and the next occurrence, indicating whether this time is in the past or future. The calculator boasts high accuracy, generally within one minute for most latitudes. However, for latitudes greater than 72 degrees North or South, accuracy is within 10 minutes due to the specific calculation methods. For a deeper understanding, consult resources detailing solar calculation methodologies.