Looking for a sky almanac? EarthSky's suggestions. | Astronomy Essentials

Many people want to know the rising and setting times for the sun, moon and planets in their sky. While it is not possible for us to answer every single inquiry individually, we can direct you to to some wonderful almanacs that provide this information. The rising and setting times presume a level horizon.

Custom Sunrise Sunset Calendar

This site provides a printable monthly calendar that gives you the sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times, and the phases of the moon. Optional features include times for civil, nautical and astronomical twilight, and the definitions for these different shades of twilight.

Old Farmer’s Almanac

Calculate rise and set times for the sun, moon and planets (including the dwarf planet Pluto!) for any location in the U.S. and Canada.

Time and Date sunrise/sunset calculator

Obtain the sunrise/sunset times for cities all around the world.

US Naval Observatory

Obtain the rise/transit/set times for sun. moon, planets and bright stars.

Time and Date planet guide

Gives the rising and setting times for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune for any chossen location.

Australian National University

Gives rise/transit/set times for the sun, moon and bright planets for anyplace worldwide. Need to know your latitude and longitude.

Heavens Above

Information on when the International Space Station and other satellites are visible in your sky.

Photo credit: EarthSky Facebook friend Lewis Brown. Thank you Lewis!

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure has served as lead writer for EarthSky's popular Tonight pages since 2004. He's a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also writes and hosts public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York.