Sunrise & Sunset Direction
Visualize sun direction on an interactive map
📱 Location and compass sensors work on mobile only. On PC, click the map to set a location and see sun directions.
🎯 For accurate direction, align the azimuth to 0° (or 360°) and keep the device level before using.
🔒 Location data is used only on your device and is never stored on any server.
🎯 For accurate direction, align the azimuth to 0° (or 360°) and keep the device level before using.
🔒 Location data is used only on your device and is never stored on any server.
Type 8 digits (e.g. 20000101 → 2000-01-01), or use the 📅 calendar.
Time Simulation
12:00
Sun Position
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Sunrise & Sunset
🌅 Sunrise
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🌇 Sunset
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📸 Golden Hour · Blue Hour
🌄 Morning Blue Hour
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🌅 Morning Golden Hour
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🌇 Evening Golden Hour
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🌆 Evening Blue Hour
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Based on sun altitude: golden hour −4° to 6°, blue hour −6° to −4°. Computed automatically for your selected date and location.
Which way does the sun rise?
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It does not rise due east every day, though — the rising point swings almost 60 degrees north and south over the year.
It rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west on only two days a year: the spring equinox (around 20 March) and the autumn equinox (around 23 September).
| Date | Sunrise bearing | Sunset bearing |
|---|---|---|
| Summer solstice (~21 Jun) | Northeast · about 60° | Northwest · about 300° |
| Equinoxes | Due east · about 90° | Due west · about 270° |
| Winter solstice (~22 Dec) | Southeast · about 120° | Southwest · about 240° |
Bearings are clockwise from north, calculated for latitude 37.5°N. The seasonal swing gets wider the further you are from the equator, and above the Arctic or Antarctic circles the sun may not rise or set at all.
Because summer sunrises are north of east, even a north-facing window catches direct light early in the morning and late in the evening. In winter the opposite happens and south-facing rooms get the deepest sunlight of the year.
FAQ
How do I know sunrise/sunset direction in advance?
Set a location and date, and the map draws the sunrise direction (orange line) and sunset direction (red line). The direction changes seasonally, so use it to plan compositions before a shoot.
What does the map rotation do?
On mobile, tapping My Location rotates the map to match the direction you're facing using the compass sensor, so the top of the screen matches your real-world view.
How do I see the current sun position?
Move the time slider to display the sun's position (azimuth and altitude) for that moment, so you know where the sun is even on cloudy days.
Can I use it on PC?
Click the map to set a location and you'll see sunrise/sunset directions and times on PC too. Compass rotation and level require mobile sensors.
When is golden hour and blue hour?
They are the times when the sun sits low and the light turns soft and warm. This page computes golden hour as sun altitude −4° to 6° and blue hour as −6° to −4°, automatically for your selected date and location — it changes daily with season and latitude.
Does the sun rise exactly in the east?
It rises in the eastern half of the sky every day, but due east only twice a year, on the equinoxes. In summer it rises north of east and in winter south of east. At latitude 37.5°N the bearing runs from about 60° in late June to about 120° in late December.
Why does the sunrise direction change through the year?
Earth's axis is tilted 23.4 degrees relative to its orbit. That tilt moves the sun's rising point back and forth along the horizon over a twelve-month cycle, and it is the same reason day length changes with the seasons.
Which way does my window face?
Drop a pin on your building and the map draws the sunrise and sunset lines for that day. The direction halfway between them is due south in the northern hemisphere, so a window facing that way is south-facing. Switch to a winter date to see how far the light will actually reach indoors.
Is it the same in the southern hemisphere?
The sun still rises in the east and sets in the west, but it tracks across the northern sky rather than the southern one, and the seasons are reversed. Around December it rises furthest south of east there, the opposite of the northern pattern.