Today in California, USA, the sun rises at 5:43 AM and sets at 8:18 PM, giving the city exactly 14h 34m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 168 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, California is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in California
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in California runs from N/A to 6:21 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:40 PM and lasts until 8:18 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. California sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in California falls exactly at 1:00 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -8.00 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for California, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in California?
At California's latitude of 36.7014631°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 233.78° (SW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for California are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 36.7014631, -118.755997. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in California (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 California versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:43 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 34m |
| 2025 | 5:43 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 34m |
| 2021 | 5:43 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 34m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in California today?
In California, the sun rises at exactly 5:43 AM and sets at 8:18 PM today. This gives the city a total of 14h 34m of daylight.
When is golden hour in California today?
Today, morning golden hour in California runs from N/A to 6:21 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:40 PM and lasts until 8:15 PM.
Why does sunrise in California shift every day?
At California's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 233.78° (SW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in California at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:00 PM when the sun reaches -8.00. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for California, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in California 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 5:43 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:43 AM.