<p>These values are convenient definitions rather than descriptions of an observable condition.</p>
<p>So astronomical twilight <em>is defined</em> to be when the sun is between 12 and 18 degrees below the horizon.  Nothing special happens as the sun moves from 11.999 degrees to 12 degrees, and nothing special happens when the sun moves from 17.999 to 18 degrees.</p>
<p>So astronomical twilight isn't something that is seen. It's not an observable.  But it is generally the case that by the time that the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon, the sky is pretty nearly as dark as it is going to get.</p>
<p>Clearly after the sun sets, the sky gets gradually darker and darker. It is a continuous process. It is convenient for humans to split up this continuum into chunks, and it is convenient for humans to do so using the position of the sun. There is nothing deeper about 18 degrees.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T10:51:16.633Z
the important part is, as written here, that it is a angle *range*
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T09:46:06.280Z
2021-06-04T09:46:06.280Z
James K
<p>It’s the very definition of astronomical twilight.</p>
<p>Civil twilight is when the sun is 6° below the horizon.</p>
<p>Nautical twilight is at 12°.</p>
<p>Astronomical twilight is at 18°.</p>
<p>These are also defined by activities. Civil twilight is the period following sunset when it’s still bright enough outside to practice most activities. Nautical twilight is when it’s dark enough to see at least a few stars, so that sailors can use them for dead reckoning. Finally, astronomical twilight is when the sky is at its darkest.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-02T19:44:28.347Z
So the astronomical twilight occurs at 18°, anyway? Could it not be a case of which it's not seen although it's at 18°?
Reckless Glacier
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-02T19:52:11.993Z
Negative. When the sun is at least 18° below the horizon, the sky is as dark as it can get. The only thing that could change that would be a high concentration of atmospheric particles (e.g., industrial pollution, volcanic dust, etc.), which would make the sky darker *before* astronomical or even nautical twilight, but then again, it would be less transparent and stars wouldn’t be seen quite as well. This happened, e.g., after the explosion of mount Pinatubo in 1991, or mount Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.
Pierre Paquette
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-03T17:43:12.777Z
@PierrePaquette I like to imagine that you typed "Eyjafjallajökull" from memory without having to look up or even double-check its spelling :)
Aaron F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T00:50:22.553Z
@AaronF: I can only wish! XD Although if I had done that, I would actually not have been too far off… ;-)
Pierre Paquette
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T10:52:25.613Z
twilight types are not at a fixed angle below horizon but as JamesK writes, it's an angle range which distinguishes the twilight types. You give the angles at which the respective twilight *ends*.
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T13:24:24.477Z
Good point indeed!
Pierre Paquette
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-02T19:39:34.853Z
2021-06-02T19:39:34.853Z
Pierre Paquette
<p>Is astronomical twilight always seen when the sun is 18 degrees under the horizon or are there other factors that may influence it?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Ukvku.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ukvku.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<twilight>
Is astronomical twilight always seen when the sun is 18 degrees under the horizon?
Reckless Glacier
# Is astronomical twilight always seen when the sun is 18 degrees under the horizon?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-02)

Is astronomical twilight always seen when the sun is 18 degrees under the horizon or are there other factors that may influence it?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Ukvku.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Ukvku.png)

**Tags:** twilight

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-04. Score: 3

These values are convenient definitions rather than descriptions of an observable condition.

So astronomical twilight *is defined* to be when the sun is between 12 and 18 degrees below the horizon. Nothing special happens as the sun moves from 11.999 degrees to 12 degrees, and nothing special happens when the sun moves from 17.999 to 18 degrees.

So astronomical twilight isn't something that is seen. It's not an observable. But it is generally the case that by the time that the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon, the sky is pretty nearly as dark as it is going to get.

Clearly after the sun sets, the sky gets gradually darker and darker. It is a continuous process. It is convenient for humans to split up this continuum into chunks, and it is convenient for humans to do so using the position of the sun. There is nothing deeper about 18 degrees.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: the important part is, as written here, that it is a angle *range*  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-06-02. Score: 2

It’s the very definition of astronomical twilight.

Civil twilight is when the sun is 6° below the horizon.

Nautical twilight is at 12°.

Astronomical twilight is at 18°.

These are also defined by activities. Civil twilight is the period following sunset when it’s still bright enough outside to practice most activities. Nautical twilight is when it’s dark enough to see at least a few stars, so that sailors can use them for dead reckoning. Finally, astronomical twilight is when the sky is at its darkest.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So the astronomical twilight occurs at 18°, anyway? Could it not be a case of which it's not seen although it's at 18°?  
> **username_3**: Negative. When the sun is at least 18° below the horizon, the sky is as dark as it can get. The only thing that could change that would be a high concentration of atmospheric particles (e.g., industrial pollution, volcanic dust, etc.), which would make the sky darker *before* astronomical or even nautical twilight, but then again, it would be less transparent and stars wouldn’t be seen quite as well. This happened, e.g., after the explosion of mount Pinatubo in 1991, or mount Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.  
> **username_4**: @PierrePaquette I like to imagine that you typed "Eyjafjallajökull" from memory without having to look up or even double-check its spelling :)  
> **username_3**: @AaronF: I can only wish! XD Although if I had done that, I would actually not have been too far off… ;-)  
> **username_2**: twilight types are not at a fixed angle below horizon but as JamesK writes, it's an angle range which distinguishes the twilight types. You give the angles at which the respective twilight *ends*.  
> **username_3**: Good point indeed!  

---

