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San Francisco, USA37.77° N, -122.42° E

Sunrise & Sunset in San Francisco Today

Welcome to the definitive solar ephemeris for San Francisco (USA), situated at geographic coordinates 37.7749° N latitude and -122.4194° E longitude within the America/Los_Angeles timezone. Because San Francisco 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 San Francisco, USA

US Naval Observatory (USNO) Astronomical Almanac 2024 p.C24 & NOAA Solar Model

Formulacos(H) = (cos(90.833°) - sin(δ)·sin(φ)) / (cos(δ)·cos(φ))
Sunrise
01:17 PM
Official Horizon (90°50′)
Sunset
03:13 AM
Official Horizon (90°50′)
Solar Noon
08:15 AM
Highest solar culmination
Day Length
-11h -4m
Golden Hour Photographic Windows (Sun < 6° Elevation)
Morning Golden Hour
01:17 PM02:17 PM
Warm dawn sidelight for landscapes
Evening Golden Hour
02:13 AM03:13 AM
Soft sunset illumination for portraits
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7-Day Solar Forecast for San Francisco

Updated daily
DateSunriseSolar NoonSunsetDaylight
Thu, Aug 6Today
01:17 PM08:15 AM03:13 AM-11h -4m
Fri, Aug 7
01:18 PM08:15 AM03:12 AM-11h -6m
Sat, Aug 8
01:18 PM08:15 AM03:11 AM-11h -8m
Sun, Aug 9
01:19 PM08:14 AM03:09 AM-11h -10m
Mon, Aug 10
01:20 PM08:14 AM03:08 AM-11h -12m
Tue, Aug 11
01:21 PM08:14 AM03:07 AM-11h -14m
Wed, Aug 12
01:22 PM08:14 AM03:06 AM-11h -16m

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.What is the exact solar noon in San Francisco?

Solar noon in San Francisco occurs when the sun crosses the local celestial meridian (-122.42° E) and reaches its maximum angular elevation above the horizon. Because San Francisco operates on America/Los_Angeles, solar noon typically occurs around mid-day, adjusted for the seasonal Equation of Time.

Q2.How does atmospheric refraction affect sunrise and sunset in San Francisco?

At latitude 37.77°, 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 San Francisco?

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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