The time before sunrise when it starts to get light is called "dawn," which includes different stages of twilight: astronomical, nautical, and civil twilight.
- Civil twilight begins when the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon and ends at sunrise. This is when there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Civil twilight typically lasts about 20 to 30 minutes before the Sun actually rises
- The exact duration of twilight before sunrise varies depending on your latitude and the time of year. Near the equator, twilight can last around 24 minutes, while at higher latitudes, especially near the poles, it can last for hours or even weeks around solstices
- For example, at mid-latitudes like Greenwich, England (51.5°N), civil twilight before sunrise can last between 33 and 48 minutes depending on the season
In summary, it generally gets light about 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise during civil twilight, but this period can be shorter near the equator and much longer near the poles
