Seasons and sky
Sunrise
Direct answer
Sunrise is the defined instant when the Sun's upper limb first appears at the observer's horizon under standard assumptions for refraction.
Sunrise is the calculated first appearance of the Sun's upper edge at the horizon.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Related
- Astronomical Season, Meteorological Season, Equinox, Solstice
Sunrise is the calculated first appearance of the Sun's upper edge at the horizon.
A Sun-Earth orientation for seasonal, atmospheric, tidal, and terrestrial terms.
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The story behind Sunrise
Rise times have been central almanac data for agriculture, navigation, worship, and civil scheduling.
Why Sunrise matters
Sunrise time shapes daylight, prayer and work schedules, observing windows, and local almanac usefulness.
Sunrise in practice: an example
Two cities in the same time zone can have different sunrise times because longitude, latitude, terrain, and season differ.
Where readings of Sunrise go wrong
A common error is to treat a tabulated sunrise as the moment direct light clears every local mountain, tree, or building.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Rise, Set, and Twilight Definitions - Definitions used by USNO for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, and twilight.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Complete Sun and Moon Data - Authoritative astronomical data services for positions, phases, and rise and set events.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Find local sunrise
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More in Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Amphidromic Point
- Brocken Spectre
- Dawn
- Equinoctial Tide
- Horizon Refraction
- Moonset
- Photoperiod
- Solar Declination
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Common questions
What is sunrise?
Sunrise is the defined instant when the Sun's upper limb first appears at the observer's horizon under standard assumptions for refraction.
What do people get wrong about sunrise?
A common error is to treat a tabulated sunrise as the moment direct light clears every local mountain, tree, or building.
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