when is dawn

Dawn is the period of first light before sunrise, when the sky begins to brighten but the Sun is still below the horizon.

What “dawn” means

• In everyday language, “dawn” usually means the first noticeable light in the sky before sunrise.

• Astronomers split it into stages based on how far the Sun is below the horizon:

* Astronomical dawn: Sun at 18° below the horizon (very faint light, most stars still visible).
* Nautical dawn: Sun at 12° below (horizon just distinguishable at sea).
* Civil dawn: Sun at 6° below (most objects visible; many people simply call this “dawn”).

Typical clock time

The clock time of dawn depends on date and location, so there is no single universal time. For example, around mid‑February in London, civil dawn is roughly between 06:45 and 06:40, a bit earlier each day as spring approaches.

If you tell me your city or coordinates and a date, I can describe what time dawn would fall there on that day.