Zmanim & Shabbat Candle Lighting Times

Halachic times are tied to the Sun, so the calculator first finds sea-level sunrise and sunset for your coordinates with the NOAA solar equations, using the standard horizon of 0.833° below to allow for refraction and the Sun's radius. Most daytime zmanim are then measured in proportional hours (shaos zmaniyos): the day divided into twelve equal parts, which are longer than 60 minutes in summer and shorter in winter.

• GRA (Vilna Gaon): the day runs from sunrise to sunset. In New York in late June a proportional hour is about 75 minutes.
• Magen Avraham (MGA): the day runs from dawn 72 minutes before sunrise to nightfall 72 minutes after sunset, so every hour is 12 minutes longer and the latest Shema is earlier.
• Chatzot is the midpoint of sunrise and sunset; mincha gedola is half a proportional hour later; mincha ketana is at 9.5 hours; plag hamincha at 10.75 hours.
• Degree-based times use the Sun's depression: alot hashachar 16.1°, misheyakir 11.5°, tzeit hakochavim 8.5°.

The times are astronomical calculations for sea level, rounded to the nearest minute. Real practice depends on community custom and rabbinic ruling.

• Build in a margin. Light candles a few minutes before the listed time and avoid relying on the last minute for Shema or Shacharit.
• Elevation and the local horizon are not modelled; hills or high buildings can change the visible sunset.
• Your synagogue calendar comes first. When it differs from this page, follow it and ask your rabbi which opinion to use.
• Coordinates matter. Every 110 km east or west moves the times by about four minutes, so use your own location rather than the nearest large city.