A live world map of where it is day and where it is night right now.
How this tool works
The shaded region is the night side of Earth, bounded by the terminator, the moving line of sunrise and sunset. The tool computes the subsolar point (where the sun is directly overhead this second, marked in yellow) from the current time, and shades the hemisphere facing away from it. The map refreshes every minute. Click anywhere to get sunrise and sunset times and the sun's current altitude at that point.
What you can do with it
- See at a glance which parts of the world are in daylight before calling or messaging someone
- Watch how the terminator tilts with the seasons
- Click any point for its sunrise, sunset, and current sun altitude
- Find the subsolar point where the sun is exactly overhead
Why use it
Time zone math tells you the clock time somewhere, but not whether the sun is up. One glance at the terminator answers the real question, and the seasonal tilt of the line is one of the best ways to actually understand why days get longer and shorter.
Data sources and methods
Related tools
These tools are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Results are computed from simplified public data and standard formulas, and may differ from surveyed or official values. No warranty is given as to accuracy or completeness, and the tools should not be relied on for navigation, legal, or commercial purposes.