What Time Is Dawn Tomorrow? (Check Dawn Times Near You)

Whether you're planning an early morning run, scheduling a photography session, catching a flight, observing wildlife, or timing religious prayers, knowing what time dawn is tomorrow helps you plan your day better. Dawn—that beautiful period when the sky first begins to lighten—happens at a different time each day and varies by your exact location. That's why checking your local dawn time tomorrow is essential for accurate planning.

If you only need today's sunrise and sunset times, use our Sunrise & Sunset search tool – enter your city to see exact sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, and golden hour times for your location.

You may also find these guides helpful:

• What Time Is Dusk Today?
• Civil, Nautical, and Astronomical Twilight Explained

In this guide, you'll learn what dawn is, how to find dawn time near me instantly, why dawn changes daily, and practical tips for different activities that depend on morning light timing. Whether you need civil dawn for outdoor activities or astronomical dawn for stargazing, we'll help you understand and find the exact times you need.

What Is Dawn?

Dawn is the period of morning twilight that occurs before sunrise, when the sky begins to lighten but the sun is still below the horizon. It's that beautiful transition from darkness to daylight, often marked by soft colors—pinks, oranges, purples, and blues—spreading across the sky.

Astronomers define dawn more precisely than everyday usage. There are actually three types of dawn, each marking a different stage of morning twilight based on how far the sun is below the horizon:

Civil Dawn

Civil dawn occurs when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon, typically 20-30 minutes before sunrise. This is what most people mean when they ask "what time is dawn?" At civil dawn:

• There's enough natural light to see clearly without artificial lighting
• Streetlights typically turn off automatically
• The sky shows beautiful warm colors (oranges, pinks, purples)
• It's bright enough to safely start outdoor activities

This is the most practical civil dawn time today or tomorrow for planning morning runs, photography, or any activity that needs natural light.

Nautical Dawn

Nautical dawn happens when the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon, usually 40-50 minutes before sunrise. The name comes from navigation—at this point, sailors can distinguish the horizon line at sea, which helps with celestial navigation using stars.

At nautical dawn, it's still quite dark but noticeably getting lighter. The brightest stars begin to fade, and the sky transitions from deep blues to warmer tones. This is important for pilots and mariners who need to see the horizon for navigation.

Astronomical Dawn

Astronomical dawn occurs when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon, typically 60-90 minutes before sunrise. This marks the beginning of astronomical twilight and the end of true night darkness.

At astronomical dawn, the sky is still mostly dark, but the faintest stars begin to fade. This is when astronomers know that true darkness is ending. It's the earliest stage of early morning light, barely perceptible to most people but important for stargazing and astronomical observations.

Difference Between Dawn and Sunrise

Here's a simple way to understand the difference:

• Dawn is the period of morning twilight before sunrise—a window of time when light appears but the sun is still below the horizon
• Sunrise is the exact moment when the sun's upper edge first appears above the horizon—a specific clock time

Think of it like this: dawn is the gradual brightening that happens before the sun comes up. Sunrise is when the sun actually appears. Civil dawn typically begins 20-30 minutes before sunrise, though this varies by location and season.

How to Check Dawn Times Near You

Finding your local dawn time tomorrow is simple when you use the right tool. Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Use the search bar on SunTimesToday.com
   Go to SunTimesToday.com and type your city name in the search field. Examples: "New York," "London," "Sydney." The search will instantly show results for your location.
2. Enable location detection (optional)
   If you're on a mobile device, the site can use your GPS location to show dawn times for your exact coordinates. This gives you the most accurate dawn time near me without typing anything.
3. View dawn times for tomorrow
   Once you select your city, you'll see civil dawn, nautical dawn, and astronomical dawn times clearly displayed. You can also navigate to see times for future dates.
4. Save your favorite locations
   Bookmark your city page or add it to your home screen for quick access. This way, you can check civil dawn time today and tomorrow in seconds without searching again.

The search results show all three types of dawn times, plus sunrise, sunset, and day length. This makes it easy to plan any activity that depends on morning light timing.

Why Dawn Changes Each Day

Dawn time shifts every single day—sometimes by just a minute, sometimes by several minutes. Understanding why helps you plan better. Here are the main factors:

Earth's Tilt and Seasons

Earth tilts about 23.5° on its axis. As we orbit the sun throughout the year, different hemispheres tilt toward or away from the sun, changing day length and the timing of dawn. In summer, civil dawn time today happens earlier because the sun rises earlier. In winter, dawn happens later. This seasonal change is most dramatic at higher latitudes.

Near the solstices (June and December), dawn shifts by about 1–2 minutes per day. Near the equinoxes (March and September), the change is faster—often 2–3 minutes per day. This is why checking dawn time tomorrow is important even if you checked it today.

Latitude and Longitude

Your latitude (how far north or south you are) dramatically affects dawn timing. Locations near the equator see relatively consistent dawn times year-round. Higher latitudes experience much more variation—in extreme northern locations, dawn can shift by hours between summer and winter.

Your longitude (east-west position) affects what time dawn appears on your clock within your time zone. Cities farther east in a time zone see dawn earlier than cities farther west, even though they share the same clock time.

Daylight Saving Time Changes

When daylight saving time begins (clocks "spring forward"), dawn time tomorrow appears to happen an hour later on the clock, even though the sun's actual position hasn't changed. When daylight saving ends (clocks "fall back"), dawn appears an hour earlier. This is purely a clock adjustment, not a real change in the sun's position, but it affects when you need to wake up or start activities.

These factors combine to create the daily shifts in morning twilight timing. That's why using a tool like SunTimesToday that accounts for all these variables gives you the most accurate dawn times.

Dawn vs. First Light vs. Sunrise

These three terms are often confused, but they refer to different moments in the morning light progression. Here's how they differ:

Which Comes First?

The order is: Astronomical Dawn → Nautical Dawn → Civil Dawn (First Light) → Sunrise

• Astronomical dawn happens first (60–90 minutes before sunrise), when the faintest stars begin to fade
• Nautical dawn comes next (40–50 minutes before sunrise), when the horizon becomes visible
• Civil dawn (also called first light) follows (20–30 minutes before sunrise), when there's enough light to see clearly
• Sunrise happens last, when the sun's upper edge appears above the horizon

Which Is Brighter?

Brightness increases as you move from astronomical dawn to sunrise:

• Astronomical dawn: Still mostly dark, faintest stars fading
• Nautical dawn: Dark but getting lighter, brightest stars still visible
• Civil dawn (first light): Bright enough to see clearly, beautiful colors in the sky
• Sunrise: Sun visible, full daylight beginning

Why Each Matters

Understanding dawn vs sunrise helps you plan activities:

• Astronomical dawn: Important for stargazers and astronomers who need true darkness to end
• Nautical dawn: Critical for pilots and mariners who need to see the horizon for navigation
• Civil dawn (first light): Perfect for runners, photographers, and anyone who needs natural light to see clearly
• Sunrise: The moment when the sun appears, often the peak of morning color and beauty

Most people asking "what time is dawn?" are referring to civil dawn or first light time, which is bright enough for most outdoor activities.

Examples: Global Dawn Tomorrow Times

Dawn times vary significantly by location and date. Here are example civil dawn times for major cities (times are approximate and vary by date):

Real times may vary — check your exact address for accuracy. These examples show how dawn times differ by time zone and latitude. Your actual dawn time depends on your specific coordinates and the date. Use SunTimesToday to get precise times for your location.

Activity-Specific Tips

Runners & Cyclists

For morning runs or bike rides, civil dawn is usually the best time to start. There's enough light to see obstacles and traffic, but it's still cool and peaceful. Plan to start 5–10 minutes after civil dawn to ensure adequate visibility. If you prefer running in darker conditions, nautical dawn works, but wear reflective gear and use a headlamp.

Pilots & Navigation

Pilots and mariners need nautical dawn for horizon visibility. This is when the horizon line becomes distinguishable, essential for celestial navigation and visual flight rules. Plan flights or departures so you reach your destination or complete critical navigation during nautical dawn or later. Check both nautical dawn and civil dawn times to plan your full window of safe operation.

Photographers (Blue Hour)

Dawn offers incredible photography opportunities. Civil dawn provides soft, warm light perfect for portraits and landscapes. The period just before civil dawn (during nautical dawn) is part of blue hour—when the sky takes on deep blue and purple tones. Arrive 10–15 minutes before civil dawn to catch the full blue hour transition. For more photography tips, see our guide on golden hour photography.

Wildlife Observers

Many animals are most active during dawn hours. Birds begin singing at civil dawn, and many mammals are active during this time. Arrive at your observation spot 10–15 minutes before civil dawn to get settled before activity peaks. The light during civil dawn is perfect for spotting and identifying wildlife without disturbing them.

Religious Prayer Times

Many religious traditions use dawn times for prayer schedules. Civil dawn (Fajr in Islam, for example) marks the beginning of the morning prayer period. Check your local civil dawn time today and tomorrow to maintain accurate prayer schedules. Some traditions use astronomical dawn, while others use civil dawn—know which applies to your practice.

FAQ

Check Your Dawn Time Tomorrow

Now that you understand what dawn is, how it differs from sunrise, and why it changes daily, you can plan your mornings with confidence. Whether you're scheduling a photo shoot, planning an early run, timing religious prayers, or preparing for navigation, knowing your exact dawn time tomorrow makes all the difference.

Remember: dawn time changes every day and varies by location. For the most accurate information, use SunTimesToday to search for your city and get precise civil dawn, nautical dawn, and astronomical dawn times for tomorrow and future dates.

Don't let another morning catch you unprepared. Check your local dawn time now and plan your activities around the best light of the day.