Sun path · Cape Town
Sunrise & sunset direction in Cape Town
See which way the sun rises and sets in Cape Town, with the full arc showing elevation against compass direction. Dashed curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice for comparison.
Drag the timeline to see where the sun will be in the sky.
Sun path in Cape Town on Thu, Sep 24
The sun rises at 91°, E and sets at 269°, W in Cape Town, reaching a peak elevation of 57° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 11m, measured from sunrise to sunset.
The chart above plots the full arc of the sun across the sky. The horizontal axis is compass direction, the vertical axis is elevation. Dashed reference curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice so you can see how the arc shifts through the year.
Use the scrubber to walk through the day and read the sun's compass bearing and elevation at any moment. For photography, check which direction light will come from at your planned shoot time and whether your subject will be front-lit, side-lit or backlit.
Sunrise and sunset direction in Cape Town
Bearings are measured clockwise from north and calculated from the sun path for this location.
| Date | Sun rises | Sun sets |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 91°, E | 269°, W |
| June solstice | 62°, ENE | 298°, WNW |
| Equinox | 91°, E | 270°, W |
| December solstice | 119°, ESE | 241°, WSW |
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Cape Town?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun rises in Cape Town at 91°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Cape Town in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Cape Town at 241°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Cape Town?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point in Cape Town.
