PHP date_sunset() Function

Example

Return the sunset time for Lisbon, Portugal today:

<?php
// Lisbon, Portugal:
// Latitude: 38.4 North, Longitude: 9 West
// Zenith ~= 90, offset: +1 GMT

echo("Lisbon, Portugal: Date: " . date("D M d Y"));
echo("<br>Sunset time: ");
echo(date_sunset(time(),SUNFUNCS_RET_STRING,38.4,-9,90,1));
?>

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Definition and Usage

The date_sunset() function returns the sunset time for a specified day and location.

Tip: Look at the date_sunrise() function to return the sunrise time for a specified day and location.

Syntax

date_sunset(timestamp, format, latitude, longitude, zenith, gmtoffset)

Parameter Values

Parameter	Description
timestamp	Required. Specifies the timestamp of the day from which the sunset time is taken
format	Optional. Specifies how to return the result: SUNFUNCS_RET_STRING (returns the result as string. e.g. 16:46) (This is default) SUNFUNCS_RET_DOUBLE (returns the result as float. e.g. 16.78243132) SUNFUNCS_RET_TIMESTAMP (returns the result as integer (timestamp). e.g. 1095034606)
latitude	Optional. Specifies the latitude of the location. Defaults to North. To specify a value for South, pass in a negative value
longitude	Optional. Specifies the longitude of the location. Defaults to East. To specify a value for West, pass in a negative value
zenith	Optional. Defaults to date.sunset_zenith
gmtoffset	Optional. Specifies the difference between GMT and local time in hours

Technical Details

Return Value:	Returns the time of the sunset, in the specified format, on success. FALSE on failure
PHP Version:	5+
Changelog:	From PHP 5.1.0 this function generates E_STRICT and E_NOTICE time zone errors

❮ PHP Date/Time Reference