PHP date_sunset()Function

PHP Date/TimePHP Date/Time Reference Manual

Examples

Returns the sunset time in 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));
?>

Run example »

Definition and Usage

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

Tip:See alsodate_sunrise()function, which returns the sunrise time for the specified date and location.

Syntax

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

Parameter Description
timestamp Required. Specifies the date/time timestamp to calculate the sunset time.
format

Optional. Specifies how to return the result:

  • SUNFUNCS_RET_STRING (returns the result as a string, e.g., 16:46) (default)
  • SUNFUNCS_RET_DOUBLE (returns the result as a float, e.g., 16.78243132)
  • SUNFUNCS_RET_TIMESTAMP (returns the result as an integer (timestamp), e.g., 1095034606)
latitude Optional. Specifies the latitude of the location. Default is north latitude. Therefore, to specify south latitude, a negative value must be passed.
longitude Optional. Specifies the longitude of the location. Default is east longitude. Therefore, to specify west longitude, a negative value must be passed.
zenith Optional. Defaults to date.sunset_zenith.
gmtoffset Optional. Specifies the difference between GMT and local time, in hours.

Technical Details

Return value: If successful, in the specifiedformatformat, the sunset time is returned. If it fails, FALSE is returned.
PHP Version: 5+
Changelog: Since PHP 5.1.0, this function reports E_STRICT and E_NOTICE timezone errors.

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