Today in Nelson, New Zealand, the sun rises at 7:53 AM and sets at 5:11 PM, giving the city exactly 9h 18m 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, Nelson is currently in its Winter season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Nelson
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Nelson runs from N/A to 8:37 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 4:28 PM and lasts until 5:11 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Nelson sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Nelson falls exactly at 12:32 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -70.16 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Nelson, typical of its Winter season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Nelson?
At Nelson's latitude of -41.2710849°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 382.26° (NNE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Nelson are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates -41.2710849, 173.2836756. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Nelson (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 Nelson versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 7:53 AM | 5:11 PM | 9h 18m |
| 2025 | 7:53 AM | 5:12 PM | 9h 18m |
| 2021 | 7:53 AM | 5:12 PM | 9h 18m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Nelson today?
In Nelson, the sun rises at exactly 7:53 AM and sets at 5:11 PM today. This gives the city a total of 9h 18m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Nelson today?
Today, morning golden hour in Nelson runs from N/A to 8:37 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 4:28 PM and lasts until 5:08 PM.
Why does sunrise in Nelson shift every day?
At Nelson's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 382.26° (NNE). 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 Nelson at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:32 PM when the sun reaches -70.16. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Nelson, typical of its Winter season.
Has the sunrise time in Nelson 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 7:53 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 7:53 AM.