Golden Hour Calculator
Golden hour is the brief window after sunrise and before sunset when sunlight turns warm and golden, skimming the horizon at a low angle that flatters almost every subject. Landscape, portrait, and architectural photographers plan entire shoots around these moments. Knowing exactly when golden hour begins and ends at your specific location, on a specific date, is essential for planning a successful shoot, especially when travelling to an unfamiliar location or working with a tight schedule. This calculator uses NOAA's published simplified solar algorithm to compute the full sequence of light events for any latitude and longitude on any date: astronomical dawn, civil dawn (blue hour start), sunrise, golden hour end, solar noon, golden hour start, sunset, and civil dusk (blue hour end). Enter your location in decimal degrees (for example, New York City is 40.71 N, 74.01 W), the date of your shoot, and your UTC offset. All times are returned in local time. The calculator does not require GPS access or an internet connection beyond loading the page, and works for any location on Earth within the polar circles. Times are approximate and users should verify critical shoot times against local sunrise/sunset data.
Sunrise at --:--, golden hour ends --:--. Golden hour starts --:--, sunset at --:--.
All times shown in local time based on the UTC offset you enter. The calculator uses NOAA's simplified astronomical algorithm. Times are approximate: verify critical shoot times against local sunrise/sunset data before travelling.
How the calculation works
This calculator implements the NOAA simplified solar algorithm as documented at gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html. The steps below summarise the formulas used.
Step 1: Julian day and Julian century
The date is converted to a Julian Day Number (JD). The Julian century T is then computed as: T = (JD - 2451545) / 36525. T counts centuries since 1 January 2000, noon UTC (J2000.0), the standard epoch used in modern solar calculations.
Step 2: Solar geometry
The geometric mean longitude L0 = 280.46646 + 36000.76983 * T (mod 360) and geometric mean anomaly M = 357.52911 + 35999.05029 * T - 0.0001537 * T^2 are calculated. From these, the equation of centre C corrects for the slight eccentricity of Earth's orbit. The sun's true longitude, apparent longitude, and declination (angular distance north or south of the equatorial plane) follow directly.
Step 3: Equation of time
The equation of time EqTime (minutes) accounts for the difference between clock noon and true solar noon due to orbital eccentricity and axial tilt. Solar noon (minutes from midnight UTC) = 720 - 4 * longitude - EqTime.
Step 4: Hour angles for each zenith
The solar hour angle HA is computed for four zenith distances using: HA = arccos(cos(zenith_rad) / (cos(lat_rad) * cos(dec_rad)) - tan(lat_rad) * tan(dec_rad)).
- Sunrise / sunset: zenith = 90.833 degrees (accounts for standard refraction and solar disc radius)
- Civil dawn / dusk: zenith = 96 degrees (sun 6 degrees below horizon)
- Astronomical dawn / dusk: zenith = 108 degrees (sun 18 degrees below horizon)
Step 5: Event times
Sunrise (UTC minutes) = solarNoon - 4 * HA_degrees. Sunset (UTC minutes) = solarNoon + 4 * HA_degrees. Civil and astronomical events use the same formula with their respective hour angles. Golden hour end = sunrise + 60 minutes. Golden hour start = sunset - 60 minutes. Adding UTC offset * 60 converts all times to local time.
Reference: approximate golden hour times for selected cities
The table below shows approximate golden hour times on the summer solstice (21 June) and winter solstice (21 December) for selected cities, at standard time (no daylight saving adjustment).
| City | Lat / Lon | Morning GH end (Jun) | Evening GH start (Jun) | Morning GH end (Dec) | Evening GH start (Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (EST, UTC-5) | 40.71 / -74.01 | ~06:30 | ~20:15 | ~08:13 | ~15:52 |
| Los Angeles (PST, UTC-8) | 34.05 / -118.24 | ~06:53 | ~19:56 | ~07:56 | ~16:18 |
| London (GMT, UTC+0) | 51.51 / -0.13 | ~05:45 | ~21:22 | ~09:01 | ~15:53 |
| Sydney (AEST, UTC+10) | -33.87 / 151.21 | ~08:08 | ~18:10 | ~06:33 | ~19:18 |
| Tokyo (JST, UTC+9) | 35.69 / 139.69 | ~05:40 | ~19:56 | ~08:01 | ~15:55 |
Times are illustrative approximations only. Use the calculator above for precise results at your location and date.
Golden hour calculator: frequently asked questions
What is golden hour in photography?
Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset when sunlight is soft, warm, and travels at a low angle through the atmosphere. The light appears golden or orange, casts long gentle shadows, and flatters subjects far more than harsh midday sun. Most photographers consider golden hour the single best time to shoot landscapes, portraits, and architecture outdoors.
How long does golden hour last?
Despite its name, golden hour rarely lasts exactly 60 minutes. The duration depends heavily on latitude and season. Near the equator golden light can last as little as 20 to 30 minutes because the sun rises and sets steeply. At higher latitudes, especially in summer, golden hour can stretch to 90 minutes or more because the sun travels at a shallow angle. This calculator approximates golden hour as the 60 minutes immediately after sunrise and the 60 minutes immediately before sunset.
What is blue hour?
Blue hour is the twilight period just before sunrise (civil dawn) and just after sunset (civil dusk) when the sky takes on a deep blue tone. The sun is between 6 degrees below and at the horizon. Blue hour light is cool, even, and shadow-free, making it ideal for cityscapes, long-exposure work, and images where you want both ambient sky light and artificial lighting to be balanced.
How accurate is this golden hour calculator?
This calculator uses NOAA's simplified solar algorithm, which is accurate to within about 1 to 2 minutes for most latitudes and dates. Accuracy decreases slightly at very high latitudes (above 65 degrees) and near the solstices. The calculator does not account for elevation, local terrain, or atmospheric refraction beyond the standard NOAA correction of 0.833 degrees. For critical precision, verify with the official NOAA Solar Calculator at gml.noaa.gov.
What is civil twilight?
Civil twilight is the period when the geometric centre of the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. During civil twilight there is enough natural light to carry out most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. It corresponds to blue hour in photographic terms. Civil dawn starts civil twilight in the morning; civil dusk ends it in the evening. Astronomical twilight (sun 12 to 18 degrees below horizon) is much darker and favoured by astronomers.
Official sources
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory: Solar Calculation Details. The authoritative reference for the simplified NOAA solar algorithm used in this calculator.
- Wikipedia: Golden hour (photography). Overview of golden hour, blue hour, and their photographic significance.
Times produced by this calculator are approximate. The NOAA algorithm is accurate to within 1 to 2 minutes for most mid-latitude locations. Always verify against local sunrise/sunset data before travelling to a remote location for a shoot.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.