Today in Alaska, USA, the sun rises at 3:42 AM and sets at 12:26 AM, giving the city exactly 20h 43m of daylight. That is 5 minutes shorter than yesterday—losing 5 minutes of daylight each day. With 168 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Alaska is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Alaska
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Alaska runs from N/A to 5:34 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 10:35 PM and lasts until 12:26 AM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Alaska's high-latitude position means daylight swings dramatically across the year, from near-polar days exceeding 20 hours in summer to under 5 hours in winter.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Alaska falls exactly at 2:04 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 0.02 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Alaska, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Alaska?
At Alaska's latitude of 64.4459613°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 206.63° (SSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Alaska are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 64.4459613, -149.680909. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Alaska (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 Alaska versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 3:42 AM | 12:26 AM | 20h 43m |
| 2025 | 3:43 AM | 12:25 AM | 20h 42m |
| 2021 | 3:43 AM | 12:25 AM | 20h 42m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Alaska today?
In Alaska, the sun rises at exactly 3:42 AM and sets at 12:26 AM today. This gives the city a total of 20h 43m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Alaska today?
Today, morning golden hour in Alaska runs from N/A to 5:34 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 10:35 PM and lasts until 12:14 AM.
Why does sunrise in Alaska shift every day?
At Alaska's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 206.63° (SSW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is losing 5 minutes of daylight each day until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Alaska at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 2:04 PM when the sun reaches 0.02. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Alaska, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Alaska 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 3:43 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 3:43 AM.