TimeandTool

Sunrise & Sunset in San José

Costa Rica · 9.93°N, -84.09°E · Today, May 2, 2026

🌙 Looking for tonight's moon phase in San José?See moonrise & lunar data →
Sunrise
05:18 AM
Solar Noon
11:33 AM
Sunset
05:47 PM
Daylight
12h 29m

Tomorrow's Sunrise & Sunset in San José

Sunrise
05:18 AM
Sunset
05:48 PM
Daylight
12h 29m

Detailed Solar Information

Civil Twilight Start
04:57 AM
Civil Twilight End
06:09 PM
Golden Hour (morning)
Sunrise – 05:47 AM
Golden Hour (evening)
05:19 PM – Sunset
Latitude
9.9281°
Longitude
-84.0907°

Next 30 Days

DateSunriseSunsetDaylight
May 2(today)05:18 AM05:47 PM12h 29m
May 305:18 AM05:48 PM12h 29m
May 405:18 AM05:48 PM12h 30m
May 505:17 AM05:48 PM12h 30m
May 605:17 AM05:48 PM12h 31m
May 705:17 AM05:48 PM12h 31m
May 805:17 AM05:48 PM12h 32m
May 905:16 AM05:48 PM12h 32m
May 1005:16 AM05:49 PM12h 33m
May 1105:16 AM05:49 PM12h 33m
May 1205:16 AM05:49 PM12h 33m
May 1305:15 AM05:49 PM12h 34m
May 1405:15 AM05:49 PM12h 34m
May 1505:15 AM05:49 PM12h 35m
May 1605:15 AM05:50 PM12h 35m
May 1705:15 AM05:50 PM12h 35m
May 1805:14 AM05:50 PM12h 36m
May 1905:14 AM05:50 PM12h 36m
May 2005:14 AM05:51 PM12h 36m
May 2105:14 AM05:51 PM12h 37m
May 2205:14 AM05:51 PM12h 37m
May 2305:14 AM05:51 PM12h 37m
May 2405:14 AM05:51 PM12h 38m
May 2505:14 AM05:52 PM12h 38m
May 2605:14 AM05:52 PM12h 38m
May 2705:14 AM05:52 PM12h 39m
May 2805:14 AM05:53 PM12h 39m
May 2905:14 AM05:53 PM12h 39m
May 3005:14 AM05:53 PM12h 39m
May 3105:14 AM05:53 PM12h 40m

🌅 Golden Hour Guide for San José

Morning Golden Hour

Begins at sunrise (05:18 AM) and lasts approximately 30–60 minutes. Warm, directional light from a low angle — ideal for portraits, cityscapes, and landscapes.

Evening Golden Hour

Begins approximately 60 minutes before sunset (05:47 PM). The last light of day turns golden and orange — often more dramatic than the morning.

Civil Twilight

The sky transitions between 04:57 AM and 06:09 PM. Soft, diffuse blue light with no harsh shadows — favored by portrait photographers.

Photography Tips

Arrive 15 minutes early to set up. Shoot RAW for better exposure latitude. Use a tripod for longer exposures during twilight. Cloudy days can soften and extend golden hour light.

Understanding Daylight in San José

San José is located at 9.93°N latitude, which determines its seasonal daylight variation. Near the equator, San José experiences relatively stable day lengths year-round — rarely more than 30 minutes of variation between the shortest and longest day. Sunrise and sunset shift gradually, and there are no extreme summer or winter daylight swings.

Solar noon in San José today is at 11:33 AM — the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. This is not necessarily 12:00 PM on the clock; timezone conventions and longitude within a timezone zone can shift solar noon significantly from clock noon. The difference between clock noon and solar noon is called the equation of time, and it varies throughout the year due to Earth's elliptical orbit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sunrise in San José today is at 05:18 AM local time. Sunset is at 05:47 PM.
San José has approximately 12h 29m of daylight today.
Solar noon in San José today is at 11:33 AM, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
Morning golden hour in San José is around sunrise (05:18 AM). Evening golden hour starts around 05:19 PM and ends at sunset (05:47 PM).
San José is located at 9.9281°N, -84.0907°E. These coordinates are used to calculate precise sunrise and sunset times.
Civil twilight in San José begins at 04:57 AM and ends at 06:09 PM. During this time the sun is less than 6° below the horizon, providing enough natural light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting.
San José observes the America/Costa_Rica timezone. This timezone is used to determine local time throughout the region and influences the timing of sunrise, sunset, and solar noon.
As a location 9.9° north, San José's sunrise and sunset times vary significantly throughout the year based on latitude. Near the equator, San José experiences relatively consistent day lengths year-round, with sunrise and sunset times changing gradually. This means less seasonal variation compared to higher latitudes.
Solar noon in San José occurs at 11:33 AM local time, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky directly south (or north in the Southern Hemisphere). This moment defines the middle of the daylight period.
In San José at latitude 10°, daylight hours vary dramatically between seasons. The difference between the longest day (near summer solstice) and shortest day (near winter solstice) can exceed 4 hours, driven by the tilt of Earth's axis.
Sunrise and sunset times for San José are calculated using astronomical algorithms that account for the precise latitude (9.9281°) and longitude (-84.0907°), the date, Earth's orbital position, and atmospheric refraction. These factors produce accurate times for solar events.
Today in San José: sunrise 05:18 AM, morning golden hour ends before solar noon, solar noon arrives around 11:33 AM, evening golden hour begins around 05:19 PM, civil twilight starts 04:57 AM, sunset 05:47 PM, civil twilight ends 06:09 PM. Each phase has distinct photographic and observational qualities.
Tomorrow in San José sunrise is at 05:18 AM and sunset is at 05:48 PM, giving 12h 29m of daylight.
Tonight in San José, the moon is in the Full Moon phase with 97% illumination. For exact moonrise and moonset times, visit the dedicated moon page for San José.
It gets dark in San José at 06:09 PM, when civil twilight ends and the sun drops more than 6° below the horizon. After this point, artificial lighting is needed for most outdoor activities.
It starts getting light in San José at 04:57 AM, when morning civil twilight begins — before the official sunrise at 05:18 AM. During civil twilight there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting.
Sunset in San José tomorrow is at 05:48 PM, giving 12h 29m of total daylight.
In San José today, morning golden hour runs from sunrise at 05:18 AM for about 30–60 minutes. Evening golden hour begins around 05:19 PM and lasts until sunset at 05:47 PM. Civil twilight at 04:57 AM in the morning and 06:09 PM in the evening also provides soft, diffused light ideal for landscape and portrait photography.

Monthly Archives — 2026

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Data verified by Dr. Meera Iyer, Astrophysicist · Sources: Jean Meeus' Astronomical Algorithms, USNO Solar Tables · Methodology
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