Twilight

Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this illumination occurs.[2]

Twilight is the time period between (astronomical) dawn and sunrise, or between sunset and (astronomical) dusk.
Morning twilight: astronomical, nautical, and civil stages at dawn. The apparent disk of the Sun is shown to scale.[1]
Evening twilight: civil, nautical, and astronomical stages at dusk. The solar disk is shown to scale.

The lower the Sun is beneath the horizon, the dimmer the twilight (other factors such as atmospheric conditions being equal). When the Sun reaches 18° below the horizon, the twilight's brightness is nearly zero, and evening twilight becomes nighttime. When the Sun again reaches 18° below the horizon, nighttime becomes morning twilight. Owing to its distinctive quality, primarily the absence of shadows and the appearance of objects silhouetted against the lit sky, twilight has long been popular with photographers and painters, who often refer to it as the blue hour, after the French expression l'heure bleue.

By analogy with evening twilight, the word twilight is also sometimes used metaphorically, to imply that something is losing strength and approaching its end. For example, very old people may be said to be "in the twilight of their lives". The collateral adjective for twilight is crepuscular, which may be used to describe the behavior of animals that are most active during this period.

Definitions by geometry

Twilight is defined according to the solar elevation angle θs, which is the position of the geometric center of the Sun relative to the horizon. There are three established and widely accepted subcategories of twilight: civil twilight (nearest the horizon), nautical twilight, and astronomical twilight (farthest from the horizon).[2]

Civil twilight
Midtown Manhattan during civil twilight, demonstrating blue hour

Civil twilight is the period when enough natural light remains that artificial light is not needed.

Morning civil twilight begins when the geometric center of the Sun is 6° below the horizon[3][4][5] and ends at sunrise.[4][5][3] Evening civil twilight begins at sunset[4][5][3] and ends when the geometric center of the sun reaches 6° below the horizon.[3][4][5] In the United States' military, the initialisms BMCT (begin morning civil twilight, i.e. civil dawn) and EECT (end evening civil twilight, i.e. civil dusk) are used to refer to the start of morning civil twilight and the end of evening civil twilight, respectively. Civil dawn is preceded by morning nautical twilight and civil dusk is followed by evening nautical twilight.

Civil twilight in a small town in the Mojave Desert

Under clear weather conditions, civil twilight approximates the limit at which solar illumination suffices for the human eye to clearly distinguish terrestrial objects. Enough illumination renders artificial sources unnecessary for most outdoor activities. At civil dawn and at civil dusk sunlight clearly defines the horizon while the brightest stars and planets can appear. As observed from the Earth (see apparent magnitude), sky-gazers know Venus, the brightest planet, as the "morning star" or "evening star" because they can see it during civil twilight.[6]

Lawmakers have enshrined the concept of civil twilight. Such statutes typically use a fixed period after sunset or before sunrise (most commonly 20–30 minutes), rather than how many degrees the Sun is below the horizon. Examples include when drivers of automobiles must turn on their headlights (called lighting-up time in the UK), when hunting is restricted, or when the crime of burglary is to be treated as nighttime burglary, which carries stiffer penalties in some jurisdictions.

The period may affect when extra equipment, such as anti-collision lights, is required for aircraft to operate.[7] In the US, civil twilight for aviation is defined in Part 1.1 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)[8] as the time listed in the American Air Almanac.[9]

Nautical twilight
Evening nautical twilight on Lake Ontario, Canada

Morning nautical twilight (nautical dawn) begins when the geometric center of the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning and ends when the geometric center of the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning.

Long exposure of nautical twilight in a small town in the Mojave Desert

Evening nautical twilight (nautical dusk) begins when the geometric center of the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the evening and ends when the geometric center of the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the evening.[10][3][5]

Before nautical dawn and after nautical dusk, sailors cannot navigate via the horizon at sea as they cannot clearly see the horizon.[1] At nautical dawn and nautical dusk, the human eye finds it difficult, if not impossible, to discern traces of illumination near the sunset or sunrise point of the horizon (first light after nautical dawn but before civil dawn and nightfall after civil dusk but before nautical dusk).

At the beginning of nautical twilight, artificial lighting must be used to see terrestrial objects clearly.

Sailors can take reliable star sightings of well-known stars, during the stage of nautical twilight when they can distinguish a visible horizon for reference (i.e. after astronomic dawn or before astronomic dusk).

Under good atmospheric conditions with the absence of other illumination, during nautical twilight, the human eye may distinguish general outlines of ground objects but cannot participate in detailed outdoor operations.[11]

Nautical twilight has military considerations as well. The initialisms BMNT (begin morning nautical twilight, i.e. nautical dawn) and EENT (end evening nautical twilight, i.e. nautical dusk) are used and considered when planning military operations. A military unit may treat BMNT and EENT with heightened security, e.g. by "standing to", in which everyone assumes a defensive position.

Astronomical twilight
Nautical twilight viewed from Santorini, Greece.

Astronomical dawn and dusk
Evening astronomical twilight (dusk)

Astronomical dawn is the moment when the geometric center of the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Astronomical dusk is the moment when the geometric center of the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the evening. After astronomical dusk and before astronomical dawn, the sky is not illuminated by the Sun.[3][4][2]

Long exposure of astronomical twilight (dusk) in a small town in the Mojave Desert

Definition

Morning astronomical twilight begins (astronomical dawn) when the geometric center of the Sun is 18° below the horizon in the morning and ends when the geometric center of the Sun is 12° below the horizon in the morning. Evening astronomical twilight begins when the geometric center of the Sun is 12° below the horizon in the evening and ends (astronomical dusk) when the geometric center of the Sun is 18° below the horizon in the evening.[4][5] In some places (away from urban light pollution, moonlight, auroras, and other sources of light), where the sky is dark enough for nearly all astronomical observations, astronomers can easily make observations of point sources such as stars both during and after astronomical twilight in the evening and both before and during astronomical twilight in the morning. However, some critical observations, such as of faint diffuse items such as nebulae and galaxies, may require observation beyond the limit of astronomical twilight. Theoretically, the faintest stars detectable by the naked eye (those of approximately the sixth magnitude) will become visible in the evening at astronomical dusk, and become invisible at astronomical dawn.[12]

However, in other places, especially those with skyglow, astronomical twilight may be almost indistinguishable from night. In the evening, even when astronomical twilight has yet to end and in the morning when astronomical twilight has already begun, most casual observers would consider the entire sky fully dark. Because of light pollution, observers in some localities, generally in and near large cities, may never have the opportunity to view anything but the brightest stars, irrespective of the presence of any twilight at all, nor to experience anything close to a truly dark sky.

Times of occurrence
World map showing limiting latitudes of each type of twilight during the solstices

Between day and night

Observers within 48°34' of the Equator (within 50° of the Equator in May or November, within 57° of the Equator in April or October) and within 72° of the Equator on the equinoxes can view twilight twice each day on every date of the year between astronomical dawn, nautical dawn, or civil dawn, and sunrise as well as between sunset and civil dusk, nautical dusk, or astronomical dusk. This also occurs for most observers at higher latitudes on many dates throughout the year, except those around the summer solstice. However, at latitudes closer than 9 degrees (between 81° and 90°) to either Pole, the Sun cannot rise above the horizon nor sink more than 18 degrees below it on the same day on any date, this example of twilight cannot occur because the angular difference between solar noon and solar midnight elevates less than 18 degrees.

Lasting from one day to the next

At latitudes greater than 48°34' North or South, on dates near the summer solstice, twilight can last from sunset to sunrise, since the Sun does not sink more than 18 degrees below the horizon, so complete darkness does not occur even at solar midnight. These latitudes include many densely populated regions of the Earth, including the entire United Kingdom and other countries in northern Europe and even parts of central Europe.

Between one night and the next

In Arctic and Antarctic latitudes in wintertime, the polar night only rarely produces complete darkness for 24 hours each day. This can occur only at locations within 5.5 degrees of latitude of the Pole, and there only on dates close to the winter solstice. At all other latitudes and dates, the polar night includes a daily period of twilight, when the Sun is not far below the horizon. Around winter solstice, when the solar declination changes slowly, complete darkness lasts several weeks at the Pole itself, e.g., from May 11 to July 31 at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.[lower-alpha 1] North Pole has the experience of this from November 13 to January 29.

Solar noon at civil twilight during a polar night: between 67°24' and 72°34' north or south.

Solar noon at nautical twilight during a polar night: between 72°34' and 78°34' north or south.

Solar noon at astronomical twilight during a polar night: between 78°34' and 84°34' north or south.

Solar noon at night during a polar night: between 84°34' and 90° north or south.

Lasting for 24 hours

At latitudes within 9 degrees of either Pole, as the Sun's angular elevation difference is less than 18 degrees, twilight can last for the entire 24 hours. This occurs for one day at latitudes near 9 degrees from the Pole and extends up to several weeks the further toward the Pole one goes. The only permanent settlement to experience this condition is Alert, Nunavut, Canada, where it occurs for a week in late February, and again in late October.

Duration
The number of daylight hours depends on the latitude and time of year. Each pole has continuous daylight near its summer solstice.
Carpet plot of sunshine at latitude 70° north
Carpet plot of sunshine at latitude 50° north
Carpet plot of sunshine at the equator
Twilight at Paranal Observatory in Chile[13]

The duration of twilight depends on the latitude and the time of the year. The apparent travel of the Sun occurs at the rate of 15 degrees per hour (360° per day), but sunrise and sunset happen typically at oblique angles to the horizon and the actual duration of any twilight period will be a function of that angle, being longer for more oblique angles. This angle of the Sun's motion with respect to the horizon changes with latitude as well as the time of year (affecting the angle of the Earth's axis with respect to the Sun).

At Greenwich, England (51.5°N), the duration of civil twilight will vary from 33 minutes to 48 minutes, depending on the time of year. At the equator, civil twilight can last as little as 24 minutes. This is true because at low latitudes the Sun's apparent movement is perpendicular to the observer's horizon. But at the poles, civil twilight can be as long as 2–3 weeks. In the Arctic and Antarctic regions, twilight (if there is any) can last for several hours. There is no astronomical twilight at the poles near the winter solstice (for about 74 days at the North Pole and about 80 days at the South Pole). As one gets closer to the Arctic and Antarctic circles, the Sun's disk moves toward the observer's horizon at a lower angle. The observer's earthly location will pass through the various twilight zones less directly, taking more time.

Within the polar circles, twenty-four-hour daylight is encountered in summer, and in regions very close to the poles, twilight can last for weeks on the winter side of the equinoxes. Outside the polar circles, where the angular distance from the polar circle is less than the angle which defines twilight (see above), twilight can continue through local midnight near the summer solstice. The precise position of the polar circles, and the regions where twilight can continue through local midnight, varies slightly from year to year with Earth's axial tilt. The lowest latitudes at which the various twilights can continue through local midnight are approximately 60.561° (60°33′43″) for civil twilight, 54.561° (54°33′43″) for nautical twilight and 48.561° (48°33′43″) for astronomical twilight.[14][15]

Lowest Latitude Twilight Observed at Local Midnight by Month
Month Civil Nautical Astronomical
January 60°42′S 54°42′S 48°42′S
February 65°42′S 59°42′S 53°42′S
March 75°42′S 69°42′S 63°42′S
April 69°N 63°N 57°N
May 62°N 56°N 50°N
June 60°33′43″N 54°33′43″N 48°33′43″N
July 60°42′N 54°42′N 48°42′N
August 65°42′N 59°42′N 53°42′N
September 75°42′N 69°42′N 63°42′N
October 69°S 63°S 57°S
November 62°S 56°S 50°S
December 60°33′43″S 54°33′43″S 48°33′43″S

These are the largest cities of their respective countries where the various twilights can continue through local solar midnight:

Although Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, Tallinn, and Saint Petersburg also enter into nautical twilight after sunset, they do have noticeably lighter skies at night during the summer solstice than other locations mentioned in their category above, because they do not go far into nautical twilight. A white night is a night with only civil twilight which lasts from sunset to sunrise.[16]

At the winter solstice within the polar circle, twilight can extend through solar noon at latitudes below 72.561° (72°33′43″) for civil twilight, 78.561° (78°33′43″) for nautical twilight, and 84.561° (84°33′43″) for astronomical twilight.

On other planets

Twilight on Mars is longer than on Earth, lasting for up to two hours before sunrise or after sunset. Dust high in the atmosphere scatters light to the night side of the planet. Similar twilights are seen on Earth following major volcanic eruptions.[17]

In religion

Christianity
American Benedictine monks around an Easter fire preparing to light the Paschal candle prior to Easter Vigil mass

In Christian practice, "vigil" observances often occur during twilight on the evening before major feast days or holidays. For example, the Easter Vigil is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day — most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight — and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.

Hinduism

Twilight is sacred in Hinduism. It is called गोधूळिवेळ gōdhūḷivēḷ in Sanskrit or गोधूलिवेला godhūlivelā in Hindi, గొధూళివేళ "godhoolivela" in Telugu, literally "cow dust time". Many rituals, including Sandhyavandanam and Puja, are performed at twilight hour. Eating of food is not advised during this time. Sometimes it is referred to as Asurasandhya vela. It is believed that Asuras are active during these hours. One of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, Narasimha, is closely associated with the twilight period. According to Hindu scriptures, a daemonic king, Hiranakashipa, performed penance and obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed during day or night and neither by human nor animal. Lord Vishnu appeared in a half-man half-lion form (neither human nor animal), ended the life of Hiranakashipa during twilight (neither day nor night).[18]

Islam

Twilight is important in Islam as it determines when certain universally obligatory prayers are to be recited. Morning twilight is when morning prayers (Fajr) are done, while evening twilight is the time for evening prayers (Maghrib prayer). Also during Ramadhan, the time for suhoor (morning meal before fasting) ends at morning twilight, while fasting ends after sunset. There is also an important discussion in Islamic jurisprudence between "true dawn" and "false dawn".

Judaism

In Judaism, twilight is considered neither day nor night; consequently it is treated as a safeguard against encroachment upon either. It can be considered a liminal time. For example, the twilight of Friday is reckoned as Sabbath eve, and that of Saturday as Sabbath day; and the same rule applies to festival days.[19]

  • View from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, at evening civil twilight, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Morning twilight mountain moonset
  • Midsummer twilight over Rainbow Ridge, Landers, California.
  • Clouds begin to glow with colors at nautical dawn, the second stage of twilight, when the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon.
  • Characteristic polar night blue twilight, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, located at 78° north
  • Nautical twilight in the Gulf of Thailand
  • Twilight in Goa, India
  • Early civil twilight in Moscow, Russia

See also
  • Belt of Venus
  • Diffuse sky radiation
  • Earth's shadow, visible at twilight
  • Gloom
  • Green flash
  • Polar night

References
  1. Van Flandern, T.; K. Pulkkinen (1980). "Low precision formulae for planetary positions". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 31 (3): 391. Bibcode:1979ApJS...41..391V. doi:10.1086/190623.
  2. "Definitions from the US Astronomical Applications Dept". USNO. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  3. ftp://ftp.flaterco.com/xtide/Bowditch.pdf#238%5B%5D The American Practical Navigator, 2002; page 238
  4. http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APN/Gloss-1.pdf#9 Archived 2017-08-29 at the Wayback Machine Glossary of Marine Navigation
  5. http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/public/ask/2445 University of Cambridge – Institute of Astronomy – Ask an Astronomer [NB: questionable source as its sources refer back to Wikipedia]
  6. "What Is Civil Twilight?". www.timeanddate.com.
  7. 14 CFR 121.323
  8. "Title 14: Aeronautics and Space PART 1 – Definitions". ELECTRONIC CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. U.S. Government Publishing Office.
  9. "The Air Almanac". aa.usno.navy.mil.
  10. "What Is Nautical Twilight?". www.timeanddate.com.
  11. "Rise, Set, and Twilight Definitions". Archived from the original on 2015-08-14. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  12. "What Is Astronomical Twilight?". www.timeanddate.com.
  13. "Venus and the Moon strike a pose". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  14. "Length of Day and Twilight (Formulas)". www.gandraxa.com. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  15. Herbert Glarner's website, reference 2. "Civil Twilight" "6°", "Nautical Twilight" "12°". "90° − Axis(23.439°) − 12° = 54.561°.
  16. "white night". Wiktionary. 4 May 2022.
  17. NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Winter Solstice on Mars: Rovers Look Forward to A Second Martian Spring, August 07, 2006.
  18. Jossleyn Hennessy (1955). "ch. VII Education in the villages "Cow-dust time"". India democracy and education. Orient Longmans. p. 127.
  19. "SUN, RISING AND SETTING OF THE - JewishEncyclopedia.com". www.jewishencyclopedia.com.

Footnotes
  1. This is the range of dates when the Sun is more than 18 degrees north of the Celestial equator, so it is more than 18 degrees below the horizon as seen from the South Pole. See Position of the Sun#Declination of the Sun as seen from Earth.

Further reading
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Look up twilight or gloaming in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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