Dawn
191061
224353545
2008-07-08T14:01:57Z
AndrewHowse
1208138
/* See also */ intentional link to dab page
{{otheruses}}
[[Image:Dawn in Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|240px|Dawn in [[Peng Chau]], [[Hong Kong]].]]
[[Image:Dawn_Xepon_Laos.jpg|thumb|240px|Early morning in Xepon, [[Laos]] (July 2004).]]'''Dawn''' refers to the [[twilight]] before [[sunrise]]. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon. There are also more technical definitions of dawn, including the following:
; Astronomical dawn : the moment after which the sky is no longer completely dark, formally defined as the time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. <ref name="NOAA_Astro_Terms"/>
; Nautical dawn: the time at which there is just enough sunlight for the horizon and some objects to be distinguishable, formally defined as the time at which the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning. <ref name="NOAA_Astro_Terms"/>
; Civil dawn : that time at which there is enough light for objects to be distinguishable and that outdoor activities can commence, formally defined as the time at which the [[sun]] is 6 [[degree (angle)|degree]]s below the [[horizon]] in the morning. <ref name="NOAA_Astro_Terms">{{cite web
| url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/gloss3.shtml
| title = Astronomical Terms
| author = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
}}</ref>
Dawn should not be confused with [[sunrise]], which is the moment when the leading edge of the sun itself appears above the horizon.
====Dawn changes with location====
The length of time that dawn lasts varies greatly with the observer's latitude. In [[Tropics|equatorial regions]], dawn may last only a few minutes; in [[polar region]]s, dawn can last hours.
====Folklore====
In [[folklore]], belief that dawn banishes evil [[spirits]], [[ghosts]], [[vampires]], [[trolls]], [[faeries]] and [[demons]] is common, for various reasons, throughout Eastern and Western cultures. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== See also==
{{commonscat|Dawn}}
*[[Daybreak (disambiguation)|Daybreak]] <!-- intentional link to dab page so use redirect -->
*[[Sunrise]]
*[[Morning]]
*[[Sunset]]
*[[Dusk]]
*[[Twilight]]
[[Category:Earth phenomena]]
[[Category:Parts of a day]]
[[Category:Night]]
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[[es:Madrugada]]
[[eo:Sunleviĝo]]
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[[ko:새벽]]
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