Measurement[edit]

This diagram of the Sun at sunrise (or sunset) shows the effects of atmospheric refraction.

Angle[edit]
The stage of sunrise known as false sunrise actually occurs before the Sun truly reaches the horizon
because Earth's atmosphere refracts the Sun's image. At the horizon, the average amount of
refraction is 34 arcminutes, though this amount varies based on atmospheric conditions. [1]
Also, unlike most other solar measurements, sunrise occurs when the Sun's upper limb, rather than
its center, appears to cross the horizon. The apparent radius of the Sun at the horizon is 16
arcminutes.[1]
These two angles combine to define sunrise to occur when the Sun's center is 50 arcminutes below
the horizon, or 90.83° from the zenith.[1]