Night > Astronomical Twilight > Nautical Twilight > Civil Twilight > Sunrise > Day

Astronomical twilight begins when the sky is no longer completely dark after astronomical dawn. This occurs when the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning.

Nautical twilight begins when there is enough illumination for sailors to distinguish the horizon at sea but the sky is too dark to perform outdoor activities (except with artificial light). Nautical twilight begins when the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning.

Civil twilight begins when there is enough light for most objects to be distinguishable. Civil twilight, lasts until sunrise. Civil dawn occurs when the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Some bright stars and planets, such as Venus and Jupiter, are visible to the naked eye at civil dawn.

The time in the morning when the sun appears or full daylight arrives.