New York, USA
Lat: 40.71°•Lon: -74.01°
CIVIL DAWN (FIRST LIGHT)
11:49 AM
Real-time solar positioning across celestial horizon and zenith dome
First Light (Civil Dawn)11:49 AM
Sunrise12:20 PM
Solar Noon04:59 PM
Sunset09:38 PM
Last Light (Civil Dusk)10:09 PM
True Night (Astro Dusk)11:17 PM
What Time Is Dawn Today? (First Morning Light)
Civil Dawn (Sun at -6°)•Natural Ambient Illumination•Outdoor Activity Safety Index•Live Countdown to First Light
Discover Today’s Exact Dawn and First Light Times
Dawn marks the arrival of the first usable natural light in the morning. Civil dawn officially begins when the center of the sun reaches 6 degrees below the horizon. Under clear weather, this provides sufficient illumination to see terrestrial landmarks clearly without artificial lighting.
Compare astronomical dawn, nautical dawn, civil dawn, and sunrise times side-by-side to schedule morning jogs, agricultural tasks, or early flights with total precision.
How to Use the Civil Dawn Calculator
1
Select your city or enter custom GPS coordinates.
2
Review civil dawn, first light, and sunrise times.
3
Watch the live countdown clock showing hours and minutes until first morning light.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is civil dawn?
Civil dawn is the moment the geometric center of the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Under clear conditions, there is sufficient natural daylight for outdoor activities without artificial lighting.
How long before sunrise is dawn?
In mid-latitudes, civil dawn typically occurs about 25 to 35 minutes before sunrise. At higher latitudes in summer, this window can extend past an hour.
What is first light?
First light is a colloquial term often referring to either astronomical dawn (when the sky first begins to brighten) or civil dawn (when ground objects become clearly discernible).
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