Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest elevation angle above the horizon for the day. It marks the transition from morning to afternoon in astronomical terms. At solar noon, the sun is due south (in the northern hemisphere) or due north (in the southern hemisphere).

Why is solar noon not at 12:00?

Solar noon differs from clock noon for two reasons: timezone boundaries (a single timezone can span 15 or more degrees of longitude) and the equation of time (Earth's elliptical orbit causes small variations in solar day length throughout the year).

Is solar noon the hottest time of day?

No. Solar noon is when the sun is most intense, but the hottest part of the day is typically 2 to 3 hours later. This lag occurs because Earth continues warming after solar noon until heat loss exceeds solar gain.

Solar Noon: Complete Guide

Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the day. At solar noon, shadows are at their shortest and the sun is at its most intense. Despite what the name suggests, solar noon rarely occurs at 12:00 clock time, due to timezone boundaries and the equation of time.

City Comparison: Today's Times

City	Country	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Solar Noon
Delhi	India	06:24	17:50	11h 26m	12:07
Chongqing	China	06:56	18:21	11h 25m	12:38
Shanghai	China	05:59	17:21	11h 22m	11:40
Dhaka	Bangladesh	05:57	17:31	11h 34m	11:44
Mexico City	Mexico	06:32	18:12	11h 40m	12:22
Beijing	China	06:28	17:33	11h 05m	12:00
Cairo	Egypt	06:59	18:23	11h 23m	12:41
Mumbai	India	06:34	18:15	11h 41m	12:24
Guangzhou	China	06:25	18:00	11h 35m	12:13
Karachi	Pakistan	06:32	18:04	11h 32m	12:18
Istanbul	Turkey	07:19	18:21	11h 02m	12:50
Lagos	Nigeria	06:33	18:31	11h 58m	12:32

Frequently Asked Questions

What is solar noon?: Solar noon is the moment when the sun reaches its highest elevation angle above the horizon for the day. It marks the transition from morning to afternoon in astronomical terms. At solar noon, the sun is due south (in the northern hemisphere) or due north (in the southern hemisphere).
Why is solar noon not at 12:00?: Solar noon differs from clock noon for two reasons: timezone boundaries (a single timezone can span 15 or more degrees of longitude) and the equation of time (Earth's elliptical orbit causes small variations in solar day length throughout the year).
Is solar noon the hottest time of day?: No. Solar noon is when the sun is most intense, but the hottest part of the day is typically 2 to 3 hours later. This lag occurs because Earth continues warming after solar noon until heat loss exceeds solar gain.

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