How to Use the Sun & Moon Calculator
This tool provides key astronomical data for any location on any given day.
- 1. Enter a Location: Type a city name in the search box, or press the "Use My Current Location" button for instant results for your area.
- 2. Select a Date: By default, today's date is used. You can use the date picker to check sun and moon data for any other day.
- 3. View Sun Data: The left panel will show the precise times for sunrise, sunset, solar noon (the sun's highest point), and the total length of the day.
- 4. View Moon Data: The right panel displays the current phase of the moon visually, shows its official name (e.g., Waxing Gibbous), and shows the percentage of illumination for the selected date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this data come from?
The sunrise and sunset data is sourced from free, public APIs that provide astronomical information. The moon phase data is calculated in your browser using the highly accurate SunCalc.js library, which implements well-established astronomical algorithms.
What is "Solar Noon"?
Solar noon is the moment when the Sun passes a location's meridian and reaches its highest position in the sky for that day. It is generally not the same as 12:00 PM on your clock. The "Day Length" is the duration from sunrise to sunset.
Why does the moon sometimes look different in the sky than on the visualizer?
The visualizer shows a simplified, universal representation of the moon's phase as seen from Earth. The actual appearance and orientation (the "tilt" of the crescent) of the moon in your sky can vary depending on your hemisphere, latitude, and the time of night.