Ever wondered if tomorrow's sunrise will be worth waking up early for? That's exactly what Sunwatch helps you figure out! We useopen meteo to collect detailed weather information not just at your location, but also at multiple points in the direction you'll be looking during sunrise or sunset.

Ourspecial scoring system analyzes cloud patterns and weather conditions to give you a score from 0-100. Think of it like a weather forecast specifically designed for photographers and sky-watchers! We look at three different areas of the sky (close to you, at the horizon, and far away) to predict how spectacular the view will be.The near zone (0-3 miles) contributes up to 25 points to the final score and is heavily influenced by visibility and low clouds. Low clouds in this zone are particularly penalized as they can completely block the view of the event. The near zone also includes a multiplier that can significantly reduce the final score if conditions are poor, as nearby obstructions have the most immediate impact on viewing.

The horizon zone (5-13 miles) is the most important zone, contributing up to 50 points to the final score. This zone particularly favors high and mid-level clouds, which can create dramatic colors, while penalizing low clouds. The algorithm also considers the relationship between cloud heights and the freezing level in this zone, as this can affect the likelihood of colorful conditions due to the formation of ice crystals within the clouds!

The far zone (15-24 miles) contributes up to 25 points and is evaluated based on the overall distribution of clouds and their relationship to the freezing height. This zone is particularly focused on "drama clouds" - a balance of cloud coverage that can create spectacular sunrise or sunset effects. The far zone's contribution is optimized when there's a moderate amount of cloud coverage, with scores decreasing for both very clear and very cloudy conditions.You're encouraged to be a part of the Sunwatch community! Upload images of sunrises and sunsets using the "submit" feature at the bottom of the page. When uploading an image, make sure the location you have selected is correct, and the date is accurate with the image! You can upload any sunrise or sunset picture taken in the last 2 years.

Every photo you share appears on our interactive map as a colored marker - the color shows how our rating system scored that particular event. The map is our canvas, and the sky is our paint.Our goal is to enable sky watchers the ability to predict nature's beauty.