The annual daylight graph shows how the length of the day changes across the selected year. It samples the 15th of each month, giving a seasonal overview alongside the exact-date results in the calculator.
Solar results
What the graph measures
Each point represents calculated daylight duration for one mid-month date at the selected location. The line connects those samples to make the broad pattern easier to see. It is not a daily record, and the connecting line should not be read as an exact value for an intervening date.
The graph measures hours of daylight, not the clock time of sunrise or sunset. Two places can have a similar daylight curve but different evening clock times because of longitude and time-zone rules.
Compare the shape across latitudes
Near the equator, day length varies relatively little through the year. Farther north or south, the seasonal rise and fall becomes larger. In the Northern Hemisphere the longer-day part of the curve is generally centered around June, while in the Southern Hemisphere it is generally centered around December.
At polar latitudes, some dates have continuous daylight or continuous darkness. A full-day or zero-daylight value does not imply a sunrise and sunset both occur on that date. Check the individual event entries for the selected day.
Use the chart to choose a season, then inspect dates
The chart is useful for deciding when a trip will have longer outdoor days or when evening activities will begin in darkness. Once you narrow the season, open the monthly calendar for the dates you are considering.
For a sunset photograph, daylight duration alone is not enough. The sunset bearing, local horizon and golden-hour window may matter more than the longest available day. For stargazing, compare astronomical dusk and dawn rather than using daylight length as a substitute for the dark interval.
Why this graph does not identify exact extremes
The longest day may fall between the sampled dates. A mid-month point is therefore not a claim about the precise solstice or the earliest sunrise. Use individual dates to examine the turning point, and distinguish the length of the day from its position on the civil clock.
Frequently asked questions
Does the graph show every day of the year?
No. It shows one sample on the 15th of each month. This keeps the annual pattern easy to scan; the monthly calendar provides individual dates.
Why does the curve reverse between hemispheres?
Earth’s axial tilt gives the two hemispheres opposite broad seasonal daylight patterns. When northern locations receive longer days around June, southern locations generally receive shorter ones.
Can I read a sunrise time from the graph?
No. The vertical quantity is daylight duration. Use the date results or the calendar for sunrise and sunset clock times.
Does a high point mean the best month for golden hour?
Not necessarily. Longer total daylight does not guarantee a longer or better-looking photographic light window. Golden hour depends on how the Sun passes through a low-altitude band, as well as the scene and weather.