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
Are you planning to the sunrise or just looking for the best time to wake up and see it? Sunrise and Sunset Times Near the Solstices
Starts when the sun is 18° below the horizon (the sky is no longer pitch black). How to Find Your Local Time what time is sunrise
Begins when the sun is 6° below the horizon. This is when there is enough light to see clearly without artificial lamps.
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 . Due to the Earth's tilted axis and elliptical
Because we measure from the center but "see" the top edge first.
Many people confuse "dawn" with "sunrise," but they are distinct stages of morning light: Sunrise Are you planning to the sunrise or
For scientific and navigational purposes, sunrise is calculated to occur when the center of the Sun is geometrically from the zenith (straight up). This specific angle accounts for: