Articles
There's something magical about watching the sun paint the sky at dawn and dusk. Our articles reveal the science behind these daily wonders and share tips for enjoying and capturing their amazing beauty.
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The Total Solar Eclipse of August 2, 2027
Seville will see 98.4% of the Sun covered and miss the only part worth crossing the world for. A short drive decides who sees day turn to dusk, and who doesn't.
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How Long Does a Sunset Last?
Blink and you miss it? Not everywhere on Earth. Find out how long today’s sunset really lasts in your city, to the second, and where sunsets go on the longest.
Permanent DST or Standard Time? What It Means Where You Live
Everyone wants to stop changing the clocks. But which clock would we keep, and what would it do to your winter mornings and summer evenings? See it for your own town.
What Is an Analemma? Meaning, Shape and How to See Yours
Photograph the Sun at the same time every few days for a year, and something unexpected appears in the sky. Discover the shape it draws over your own city.
Sunrise and Sunset at the Equator
No long summer evenings, no dark winter afternoons: life on the equator runs on a very different clock. Here is what makes its sunrises and sunsets unlike anywhere else.
Why Do We Have Solar Eclipses?
A total eclipse is only possible thanks to a remarkable cosmic coincidence. Discover what has to line up in the sky, and how to watch one safely.
Why the Shortest Day Is Not the Day With the Earliest Sunset or Latest Sunrise
The darkest evening of the year does not fall on the shortest day, and neither does the darkest morning. Why the calendar plays this trick, with the dates for your city.
How Are Sunsets in Other Planets in Our Solar System?
What would a sunset look like from Mars, Venus or Neptune? Some would surprise you, and on one planet you might never see one at all. Take a tour of our Solar System’s sunsets.
When Is the Shortest Day of the Year?
Why have people built monuments, feasts and festivals around one particular day of winter? Find out when the shortest day falls in the years ahead, and the traditions behind it.
How Long After Sunset Does It Get Dark?
Sunset is not the end of the day’s light. How long until you need a flashlight, and until the stars come out? Tonight’s times for your city, and the places where summer nights never turn black.
What Is the Difference Between Golden Hour and Alpenglow?
Photographers chase both, and they are easy to mix up. Learn what sets golden hour and alpenglow apart, and when to have your camera ready.
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How Sunset Watching Can Improve Your Mental Health
There is a reason a sunset makes you stop and stare. Discover what a few minutes of watching the sky can do for your mind, and how to make it a habit.
What Do Pink Sunsets Mean?
Some evenings the whole sky glows pink. Is it a sign of anything? Discover what has to come together in the air for it to happen.
Is It Ok to Look Directly at a Sunrise?
A sunrise looks gentle enough to stare at. Is it really? What eye doctors say, and how to enjoy the moment without risking your eyes.
How Many Minutes Before Sunrise Is It Pretty?
If you arrive just as the Sun appears, you have already missed the show. Find out how early to get there to catch the sky at its most colorful.