Sunrise & Sunset in Cape Town Today
Welcome to the definitive solar ephemeris for Cape Town (South Africa), situated at geographic coordinates -33.9249° N latitude and 18.4241° E longitude within the Africa/Johannesburg timezone. Because Cape Town is positioned at subtropical coordinates, daylight duration fluctuates predictably throughout the solar year—reaching its maximum duration during the June solstice and its annual minimum near the December solstice.
All timestamps displayed below are computed using client-side spherical astronomy algorithms derived from the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Almanac 2024 and the NOAA Solar Calculator, accounting for standard 34-arcminute atmospheric refraction and 16-arcminute solar semidiameter at sea level.
Sunrise & Sunset in Cape Town, South Africa
US Naval Observatory (USNO) Astronomical Almanac 2024 p.C24 & NOAA Solar Model
7-Day Solar Forecast for Cape Town
Updated daily| Date | Sunrise | Solar Noon | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thu, Aug 6Today | 05:34 AM | 10:52 AM | 04:09 PM | 10h 35m |
Fri, Aug 7 | 05:33 AM | 10:52 AM | 04:10 PM | 10h 37m |
Sat, Aug 8 | 05:32 AM | 10:52 AM | 04:11 PM | 10h 38m |
Sun, Aug 9 | 05:31 AM | 10:52 AM | 04:12 PM | 10h 40m |
Mon, Aug 10 | 05:30 AM | 10:51 AM | 04:12 PM | 10h 42m |
Tue, Aug 11 | 05:29 AM | 10:51 AM | 04:13 PM | 10h 44m |
Wed, Aug 12 | 05:28 AM | 10:51 AM | 04:14 PM | 10h 45m |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.What is the exact solar noon in Cape Town?
Solar noon in Cape Town occurs when the sun crosses the local celestial meridian (18.42° E) and reaches its maximum angular elevation above the horizon. Because Cape Town operates on Africa/Johannesburg, solar noon typically occurs around mid-day, adjusted for the seasonal Equation of Time.
Q2.How does atmospheric refraction affect sunrise and sunset in Cape Town?
At latitude -33.92°, standard atmospheric refraction lifts the apparent image of the solar disc by approximately 34 arcminutes (0.566°). Combined with the sun’s 16 arcminute semidiameter, official sunrise and sunset are calculated when the center of the true solar disc is 90°50′ from the zenith.
Q3.When are the golden hour shooting windows in Cape Town?
The morning golden hour begins at sunrise and lasts for approximately 60 minutes as the sun climbs to 6° solar elevation. The evening golden hour begins 60 minutes before sunset and concludes as the sun dips below the horizon, providing warm, diffused lighting ideal for outdoor photography.
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