Sun and Moon Rising Calculator
Enter a date and location to calculate sunrise, sunset, day length, moon phase, and an approximate moonrise/moonset time.
Important disclaimer
Sunrise/sunset use standard NOAA-style solar equations (accurate to about a minute). Moonrise/moonset use a simplified phase-based approximation and can be off by an hour or more — for precise moon timing, use a dedicated astronomical almanac.
Date & Location
UTC offsets use standard time and ignore daylight saving time for simplicity. Lat, lon and offset below auto-fill from the city preset but remain editable for a custom location.
Sun & Moon Results
Sunrise
05:43
Sunset
17:55
Solar Noon
11:49
Day Length
12h 11m
Moon Phase
First Quarter
Illumination
82.0%
Moonrise / Moonset (approx.)
14:22 / 02:34
Sky Path
Moon Phase
24-Hour Day/Night Timeline
How the Sun and Moon Rising Calculator Works
This calculator uses standard solar position astronomy (the same equations used by NOAA's sunrise/sunset calculator) to compute sunrise, sunset, solar noon, and day length for any date and location. It also calculates the moon's phase and illumination from the lunar cycle, and estimates moonrise and moonset times using a simplified approximation based on the moon's phase.
Formula
Sunrise and sunset are found from the sun's declination and the local hour angle where the sun crosses the horizon, adjusted for atmospheric refraction. Moon phase is found from the number of days since a known new moon divided by the 29.53-day synodic month, and illumination is calculated as (1 - cos(2 x pi x phase)) / 2.
Example
Near the summer solstice, locations farther from the equator see a much longer gap between an early sunrise and a late sunset than they do near the winter solstice, while the moon phase cycles through a full new-moon-to-new-moon cycle roughly every 29.5 days regardless of location.
Limitations
Sunrise and sunset times are calculated using precise, widely used solar equations and should be accurate to within a minute or two under normal atmospheric conditions. Moonrise and moonset, however, use a simplified approximation based on moon phase rather than a full lunar position model, so they can be off by an hour or more; for precise moonrise or moonset times, use a dedicated astronomical almanac or observatory source.
How to use the result responsibly
- Check that every input uses the unit and time period shown beside the field.
- Compare the result with the worked example and formula above.
- For financial, tax, health, or legal decisions, confirm current rules with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the sunrise and sunset times?
They use the same type of solar position equations used by NOAA's solar calculator and are typically accurate to within a minute or two, though local terrain and atmospheric conditions can shift the exact moment the sun is visible.
Why is the moonrise time only approximate?
Precisely calculating moonrise and moonset requires modeling the moon's full orbital position, which changes more than the sun's. This tool uses a simplified estimate based on the moon's phase, which is good for general planning but not precise navigation or photography timing.
What do the moon phase names mean?
They describe how much of the moon's near side is lit, from New Moon (fully dark) through First Quarter (half-lit, growing), Full Moon (fully lit), and Last Quarter (half-lit, shrinking).
Related Tools
Editorially reviewed September 22, 2026. Read our calculation methodology and editorial policy.