Today in Stratford, New Zealand, the sun rises at 7:04 AM and sets at 5:50 PM, giving the city exactly 10h 46m of daylight. That is 2 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 122 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Stratford is currently in its Winter season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Stratford
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Stratford runs from N/A to 7:41 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:13 PM and lasts until 5:50 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Stratford sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Stratford falls exactly at 12:27 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -62.21 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Stratford, typical of its Winter season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Stratford?
At Stratford's latitude of -39.3396858°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 13.95° (NNE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Stratford are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates -39.3396858, 174.2840888. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Stratford (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 Stratford versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 7:04 AM | 5:50 PM | 10h 46m |
| 2025 | 7:04 AM | 5:51 PM | 10h 46m |
| 2021 | 7:04 AM | 5:51 PM | 10h 47m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Stratford today?
In Stratford, the sun rises at exactly 7:04 AM and sets at 5:50 PM today. This gives the city a total of 10h 46m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Stratford today?
Today, morning golden hour in Stratford runs from N/A to 7:41 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:13 PM and lasts until 5:48 PM.
Why does sunrise in Stratford shift every day?
At Stratford's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 13.95° (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 Stratford at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:27 PM when the sun reaches -62.21. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Stratford, typical of its Winter season.
Has the sunrise time in Stratford 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 7:04 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 7:04 AM.