What is the time of sunrise called?

The time of sunrise is called sunrise, and the moments leading up to it are called dawn or civil dawn.

Sunrise is the instant when the upper edge of the Sun first appears at the horizon. It marks the end of dawn and the beginning of daylight. Leading up to sunrise, the sky passes through astronomical dawn, nautical dawn, and civil dawn. These stages give a practical way to plan activities like navigation, photography, or prayer times that depend on available light.

Related terms and their meaning

• Dawn: The whole pre-sunrise period when the sky brightens.
• Civil dawn: The brightest part of dawn, just before sunrise, when the Sun is less than 6° below the horizon.
• Sunrise: The moment the Sun’s upper limb becomes visible.
• Daybreak: A common word for the general time when daylight begins; often used as a synonym for sunrise.

Why the exact time varies

• Latitude: Higher latitudes show larger seasonal changes in sunrise time.
• Season: Earth’s tilt shifts sunrise earlier in summer and later in winter.
• Terrain: Mountains or tall buildings can delay the visible moment.
• Atmospheric refraction: The atmosphere bends light, making sunrise appear a few minutes earlier than geometric calculations suggest.

In daily use, you can say “sunrise is at 6:10 AM,” and that is precise enough. If you need more detail, check an almanac or a reliable app that factors in your location, elevation, and refraction effects.