What Time Does Nautical Dawn Start Today?
Today's nautical dawn window for your location is shown above with a live countdown. The deep-blue band on the left of the animated sun path marks the morning stretch when the sun climbs from 12° up to 6° below the horizon — the first real light of the day, before the sky is bright enough to call morning.
What Is Nautical Dawn?
Nautical dawn is the start of morning nautical twilight — the moment the rising sun reaches 12° below the horizon. Before it, the sky was dark enough for astronomy; at nautical dawn a band of light appears along the horizon and the sea's edge becomes distinct against the sky. The window runs upward until civil dawn at 6° below the horizon, after which it's bright enough to move around outdoors without lights.
Nautical Dawn vs Sunrise
Nautical dawn is early light; sunrise is the sun itself. At mid-latitudes nautical dawn arrives roughly an hour before sunrise, though the gap shrinks near the equator and stretches near the poles. If you're planning a pre-dawn start — a summit push, a fishing trip, an early drive — nautical dawn is when you'll first be able to see the horizon without a torch.
FAQ
When is nautical dawn tomorrow?
The card above shows the next nautical dawn with a live countdown — if today's has already passed, it rolls to tomorrow morning automatically.
Is nautical dawn the same as nautical twilight?
Nautical dawn is the start of the morning nautical twilight window. "Dawn" names the beginning moment; "twilight" names the whole stretch of it.
How is nautical dawn calculated?
From the sun's elevation, computed for your location using only your timezone — no location permission needed. Tap "Use precise location" for street-level accuracy.
