Early morning in Xepon, Laos (July 2004).
Dawn refers to the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon. There are also more technical definitions of dawn, including the following:
- Astronomical dawn is the moment after which the sky is no longer completely dark, formally defined as the time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. [1]
- Nautical dawn is that time at which there is just enough sunlight for the horizon and some objects to be distinguishable, formally defined as the time at which the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning. [1]
- Civil dawn is that time at which there is enough light for objects to be distinguishable and that outdoor activities can commence, formally defined as the time at which the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. [1]
Dawn should not be confused with sunrise, which is the moment when the leading edge of the sun itself appears above the horizon.
[edit] Dawn changes with location
The length of time that dawn lasts varies greatly with the observer's latitude. In equatorial regions, dawn may last only a few minutes; in polar regions, dawn can last hours.
[edit] Folklore
In folklore, belief that dawn banishes evil spirits, ghosts, vampires, trolls, faeries and demons is common, for various reasons, throughout Eastern and Western cultures.[citation needed]
[edit] References and other articles
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