Planning your evening and want to know exactly when the sun will set? Knowing the precise time of sundown, or sunset, is useful for a variety of reasons, from planning outdoor activities to photography and even religious observances. Fortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a handy online tool – the NOAA Solar Calculator – to help you determine exactly what time sundown will occur tonight, or on any date you choose.
Why Knowing Sunset Time Matters
Sunset, also known as sundown, is the moment the sun disappears below the horizon in the west. It marks the end of the day and the beginning of night. For many, knowing the sunset time is crucial for:
- Outdoor Activities: Planning a late afternoon hike, a beach visit, or any outdoor event? Knowing sundown helps you estimate daylight hours and avoid being caught out in the dark.
- Photography and Videography: The “golden hour” just before sunset is prized by photographers for its soft, warm light. Knowing the exact sunset time allows photographers to plan their shoots perfectly.
- Travel Planning: When traveling to new locations, sunset times can vary significantly. Knowing this helps in planning your day and adjusting to local daylight hours.
- Religious and Cultural Observances: Many religions and cultures have observances tied to sunrise and sunset times. Accurate sunset information is essential for these practices.
- Astronomical Observations: For stargazers, knowing the sunset time is the first step in planning an evening of celestial viewing as it marks the beginning of darkness.
Introducing the NOAA Solar Calculator
NOAA, a reputable and authoritative source for scientific information, offers a free online Solar Calculator. This tool provides sunrise and sunset times for any location worldwide. While they have an updated version, this article focuses on the original, still functional, NOAA Sunrise/Sunset Calculator, preferred by some users for its straightforward approach.
This calculator, maintained by NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), takes into account your location’s latitude, longitude, and time zone to give you precise sunrise and sunset timings. Let’s explore how to use this tool to find out what time sundown is tonight.
How to Use the NOAA Solar Calculator to Find Sundown Tonight
Finding out what time sundown is tonight is simple with the NOAA Solar Calculator. Just follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Location Input – City or Latitude/Longitude
First, navigate to the NOAA Solar Calculator webpage. You’ll see a section to input your location. You have two options here:
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Select a City: The easiest way is to use the “City” dropdown menu. Simply scroll through the list and select the city closest to your location. Once you select a city, the latitude, longitude, and time zone fields will automatically populate.
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Enter Latitude and Longitude Manually: If your exact location isn’t listed, or for greater precision, choose “Enter Lat/Long –>” from the “City” dropdown menu. This will allow you to manually enter your latitude, longitude, and time zone information.
Remember the sign conventions used in this older version of the calculator:
- Longitude: Positive for Western Hemisphere, Negative for Eastern Hemisphere.
- Latitude: Positive for Northern Hemisphere, Negative for Southern Hemisphere.
You can find your location’s latitude and longitude using online mapping services. Enter these coordinates in decimal degrees into the “Deg:” field.
Step 2: Date – Today’s Date is Default
The calculator automatically retrieves the current date from your computer. The “Month,” “Day,” and “Year” fields will be pre-filled with today’s date. If you are looking for sundown time for tonight, you likely won’t need to change these fields.
However, if you want to know the sunset time for a different date, simply select the desired month from the dropdown menu and enter the day and four-digit year in the respective boxes. Remember to click the “Calculate Sunrise/Sunset” button after changing the date to update the results.
Step 3: Time Zone and Daylight Saving Time
If you selected a city in Step 1, the time zone associated with that city’s Local Standard Time will be automatically entered.
If you chose to “Enter Lat/Long,” you’ll need to manually input your time zone. Time zone is defined as positive to the west of Greenwich. If you are unsure of your time zone, NOAA provides a Time Zone Table link on the page for reference.
The “Daylight Saving” field defaults to “No.” If daylight saving time is currently in effect in your location, select “Yes.” This will adjust the calculated sunrise and sunset times forward by one hour to account for daylight saving.
Step 4: Calculate and Find Sunset Time (Sundown)
Once you have entered your location and date information, click the “Calculate Sunrise/Sunset” button. The calculator will process the information and display the results, including:
- Sunrise Time: The time the sun rises.
- Sunset Time: This is “sundown tonight” – the time the sun sets.
- Solar Noon: The time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
- Day Length: The duration of daylight hours.
The times are provided in your local time zone and in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Look for the “Sunset” time in the results to find out what time sundown is tonight for your specified location.
Tips for Accurate Sundown Time Calculation
- Location Accuracy: For the most accurate results, especially if you are in a less common location, manually entering latitude and longitude is recommended.
- Time Zone Awareness: Double-check your time zone, especially if you are near a time zone boundary. Incorrect time zone input will lead to inaccurate sunset time calculations.
- Daylight Saving Time: Remember to adjust the “Daylight Saving” setting appropriately depending on the time of year.
- Accuracy Note: For latitudes greater than 72 degrees North or South, the calculator’s accuracy is within approximately 10 minutes. For latitudes less than +/- 72°, the accuracy is about one minute, which is sufficient for most practical purposes. For even greater precision, consider using the updated version of NOAA’s Solar Calculator.
Conclusion
Knowing what time sundown is tonight is now at your fingertips thanks to the NOAA Solar Calculator. This user-friendly tool provides a quick and reliable way to determine sunset times for any location and date. Whether you’re planning an evening walk, setting up a photoshoot, or simply curious about the day’s end, NOAA’s calculator is a valuable resource. So next time you wonder “What Time Is Sundown Tonight?”, head to the NOAA Solar Calculator for the answer!
