Day & Night World Map
See which parts of the world are in daylight and which are in darkness right now. Updates every minute.
About the Day/Night Map
This live map shows the current illumination of the Earth. The bright area represents daytime, while the darker overlay shows nighttime. The yellow dot marks the current position of the sun — the point on Earth where the sun is directly overhead (the subsolar point).
The boundary between day and night is called the terminator line. Due to Earth's axial tilt of 23.45 degrees, this line shifts throughout the year, creating longer or shorter days depending on your latitude and the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the map update?
The map updates every minute. The sun position and terminator line are recalculated in real-time based on the current UTC time.
What is the terminator line?
The terminator (or twilight zone) is the moving line that separates the illuminated (day) side and the dark (night) side of Earth. It moves westward as the Earth rotates.
Why isn't the day/night line straight?
Earth's axis is tilted 23.45 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. This tilt causes the terminator to curve, creating seasons and varying day lengths at different latitudes.