Today in Philadelphia, USA, the sun rises at 5:40 AM and sets at 8:33 PM, giving the city exactly 14h 53m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Philadelphia is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Philadelphia
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Philadelphia runs from N/A to 6:20 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:52 PM and lasts until 8:33 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Philadelphia sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Philadelphia falls exactly at 1:06 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 24.37 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Philadelphia, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Philadelphia?
At Philadelphia's latitude of 39.9527237°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 260.16° (W). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Philadelphia are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 39.9527237, -75.1635262. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Philadelphia (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 Philadelphia versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:40 AM | 8:33 PM | 14h 53m |
| 2025 | 5:40 AM | 8:33 PM | 14h 52m |
| 2021 | 5:40 AM | 8:33 PM | 14h 52m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Philadelphia today?
In Philadelphia, the sun rises at exactly 5:40 AM and sets at 8:33 PM today. This gives the city a total of 14h 53m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Philadelphia today?
Today, morning golden hour in Philadelphia runs from N/A to 6:20 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:52 PM and lasts until 8:30 PM.
Why does sunrise in Philadelphia shift every day?
At Philadelphia's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 260.16° (W). 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 Philadelphia at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:06 PM when the sun reaches 24.37. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Philadelphia, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Philadelphia 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 5:40 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:40 AM.