Question 1

What does 'is it dark yet' mean?

Accepted Answer

The site answers whether the sun has set far enough below the horizon that it is genuinely dark outside — specifically, when the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon, which marks the end of civil twilight and the beginning of true nighttime darkness.

Question 2

What is civil twilight?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight is the period when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is still enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial illumination. The sky takes on deep blue and orange hues. Civil twilight begins at civil dawn (sunrise minus a few minutes) and ends at civil dusk (sunset plus a few minutes).

Question 3

What is the difference between sunset and dusk?

Accepted Answer

Sunset is the moment the upper edge of the sun disappears below the horizon. Dusk, or civil dusk, occurs when the sun's center is 6 degrees below the horizon — several minutes after sunset. Between sunset and dusk, the sky gradually darkens through civil twilight. The site considers it 'dark' only after civil dusk has passed.

Question 4

What is the difference between dawn and sunrise?

Accepted Answer

Dawn, or civil dawn, is the moment when the sun's center reaches 6 degrees below the horizon on its way up — the first detectable light of day. Sunrise occurs a few minutes later when the upper edge of the sun first appears above the horizon. Between civil dawn and sunrise, the sky brightens through morning civil twilight.

Question 5

How does the site calculate sunrise and sunset times?

Accepted Answer

The site uses the SunCalc JavaScript library, which implements standard astronomical algorithms for solar position. Calculations are based on your exact latitude, longitude, and the current date and time, producing precise sunrise, sunset, civil dawn, and civil dusk values for your location.

Question 6

What is sun altitude?

Accepted Answer

Sun altitude is the angular height of the sun above or below the horizon, measured in degrees. A positive altitude means the sun is above the horizon (daytime). Zero degrees means the sun is exactly at the horizon (sunrise or sunset). A negative altitude means the sun is below the horizon — between 0 and -6 degrees is civil twilight, and below -6 degrees is considered dark.

Question 7

What is the day progress bar?

Accepted Answer

The day progress bar shows your position between sunrise and sunset. It fills from left (sunrise) to right (sunset) as the day advances, with a 'Now' marker indicating the current time. This gives a visual sense of how much daylight remains before the sun sets.

Question 8

Does the site store my location?

Accepted Answer

No. Your GPS coordinates are used only within your browser to calculate solar position. They are never transmitted to a server, stored in a database, or shared with third parties. You can also search for any city instead of sharing your location.