Today in Cairns, Australia, the sun rises at 6:48 AM and sets at 5:57 PM, giving the city exactly 11h 9m of daylight. That is 1 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Cairns is currently in its Winter season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Cairns
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Cairns runs from N/A to 7:19 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:26 PM and lasts until 5:57 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Near the equator, Cairns's daylight stays remarkably stable year-round, deviating very little from the annual average.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Cairns falls exactly at 12:22 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -56.18 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Cairns, typical of its Winter season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Cairns?
At Cairns's latitude of -16.9206657°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 465.52° (ESE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Cairns are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates -16.9206657, 145.7721854. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Cairns (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Cairns versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:48 AM | 5:57 PM | 11h 9m |
| 2025 | 6:48 AM | 5:57 PM | 11h 9m |
| 2021 | 6:48 AM | 5:57 PM | 11h 9m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Cairns today?
In Cairns, the sun rises at exactly 6:48 AM and sets at 5:57 PM today. This gives the city a total of 11h 9m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Cairns today?
Today, morning golden hour in Cairns runs from N/A to 7:19 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:26 PM and lasts until 5:55 PM.
Why does sunrise in Cairns shift every day?
At Cairns's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 465.52° (ESE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Cairns at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:22 PM when the sun reaches -56.18. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Cairns, typical of its Winter season.
Has the sunrise time in Cairns changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 6:48 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 6:48 AM.