Frank W. Nelte
Jerusalem Sunrise and Sunset Times
For the purpose of determining whether a new moon conjunction took place before sunset on one day, or whether it took place immediately after sunset on the following day, it is helpful to be aware of fairly precise sunset times for the area of Jerusalem.
The following Table presents the sunrise and the sunset times for Jerusalem for 4 specific months for the year 2004. Since the equinoxes are almost constant in our Gregorian calendar, these sunrise and sunset times are also basically accurate (within two minutes) for all other years in our age. Unless a two minute difference would be the deciding factor as to whether the conjunction occurred on one day or on the following day, the data below can be taken as accurate. Acute borderline cases only arise about once in every 40 or 50 years, and they can then be dealt with by seeking out the very precise data applicable to those specific years.
The 4 months for which the data is here given are: MARCH, APRIL, SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER. The original data has been taken from a website provided by the State of Israel and adapted for our purposes.
The sunrise and sunset times are presented in two formats. Firstly, they are given in the time zone designation for Jerusalem (which is 2 hours east of Greenwich). Secondly, they are also given in Local Jerusalem Time (which is 2 hours 21 minutes east of Greenwich). The reason for providing both options is because in some cases the times for new moon conjunctions may be expressed in Local Jerusalem Time (as in the Astro-Calendar of the ONLINE BIBLE, for example), while in other cases these times may be expressed in terms of the 30 degrees East time zone. Times for historical conjunctions (i.e. preceding 1900 A.D.) are typically viewed in the Local Jerusalem Time format, since time zones weren't in use in bygone centuries. And in making any comparisons with previous years it is important to "compare apples with apples".
HOW TO USE THE DATA BELOW:
One consideration in determining the correct dates for the annual Feasts and Holy Days is to establish the correct days for starting the First Month (called Nisan in the Jewish calendar) and the Seventh Month (called Tishri in the Jewish calendar).
The First Month will always start in either March or in April; and the Seventh Month will always start in either September or in October. The Table below allows the user to establish when sunset in Jerusalem is likely to be for any specific day in one of those 4 months, to an accuracy of two minutes.
So while in the general calendar calculations it is helpful to work with the time of 6:00 p.m. representing the time of sunset, and therefore the time for the start of a new day, the information presented here ensures that we can in fact work with actual sunset times once we have established the precise time for a lunar conjunction.
Note also that the times given below do NOT take "daylight saving time" into consideration. That was also not a consideration in previous centuries, and so the times given here also ignore this modern convention. The times given here are strictly "2 hours east of Greenwich" and "2 hours 21 minutes east of Greenwich". So if you encounter a one hour discrepancy with times provided by other sources, please keep this in mind.
AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU MIGHT USE THIS DATA:
You find out that the first new moon in the spring of 2009 will be on March 26 at 6:27 p.m. Local Jerusalem Time. You wonder whether 6:27 p.m. on March 26 is before or after sunset. So you check the Table below and see that on March 26 sunset is likely to be at 5:55 p.m. Jerusalem Time Zone, or 6:16 p.m. Local Jerusalem Time. This helps you to establish that in 2009 the first new moon of the year will be on March 27 in the sunset-to-sunset way of counting days, because 6:27 p.m. will be 11 minutes after sunset. The time of 6:27 p.m. is no longer a part of March 26. When you then find out that in 2009 the Jewish calendar actually starts the year with Nisan 1 being March 26, THEN you can decide whether or not you feel it is acceptable for the year to start with THE DAY BEFORE THE NEW MOON CONJUNCTION. In the Jewish calendar for 2009 Nisan 1 will start at sunset on March 25 ... over 24 hours BEFORE the lunar conjunction will take place, and about 48 hours before it will be possible to see the first new crescent in Jerusalem.
As the above example illustrates, knowing the exact time of sunset can in some cases make a difference.
Here are the exact sunrise and sunset times.
MARCH:
DATE | SUNRISE | SUNRISE | SUNSET | SUNSET |
TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | |
Mar 1, 2004 | 6:06 AM | 6:27 AM | 5:37 PM | 5:58 PM |
Mar 2, 2004 | 6:05 AM | 6:26 AM | 5:38 PM | 5:59 PM |
Mar 3, 2004 | 6:04 AM | 6:25 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:00 PM |
Mar 4, 2004 | 6:03 AM | 6:24 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:00 PM |
Mar 5, 2004 | 6:01 AM | 6:22 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:01 PM |
Mar 6, 2004 | 6:00 AM | 6:21 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:02 PM |
Mar 7, 2004 | 5:59 AM | 6:20 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:03 PM |
Mar 8, 2004 | 5:58 AM | 6:19 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:03 PM |
Mar 9, 2004 | 5:56 AM | 6:17 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:04 PM |
Mar 10, 2004 | 5:55 AM | 6:16 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:05 PM |
Mar 11, 2004 | 5:54 AM | 6:15 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:05 PM |
Mar 12, 2004 | 5:53 AM | 6:14 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:06 AM |
Mar 13, 2004 | 5:52 AM | 6:13 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:07 PM |
Mar 14, 2004 | 5:50 AM | 6:11 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:08 PM |
Mar 15, 2004 | 5:49 AM | 6:10 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:08 PM |
Mar 16, 2004 | 5:48 AM | 6:09 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:09 PM |
Mar 17, 2004 | 5:46 AM | 6:07 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:10 PM |
Mar 18, 2004 | 5:45 AM | 6:06 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:10 PM |
Mar 19, 2004 | 5:44 AM | 6:05 AM | 5:50 PM | 5:11 PM |
Mar 20, 2004 | 5:43 AM | 6:04 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:12 PM |
Mar 21, 2004 | 5:41 AM | 6:02 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:12 PM |
Mar 22, 2004 | 5:40 AM | 6:01 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:13 PM |
Mar 23, 2004 | 5:39 AM | 6:00 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:14 PM |
Mar 24, 2004 | 5:38 AM | 5:59 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:14 PM |
Mar 25, 2004 | 5:36 AM | 5:57 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:15 PM |
Mar 26, 2004 | 5:35 AM | 5:56 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:16 PM |
Mar 27, 2004 | 5:34 AM | 5:55 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:16 PM |
Mar 28, 2004 | 5:32 AM | 5:53 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:17 PM |
Mar 29, 2004 | 5:31 AM | 5:52 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:18 PM |
Mar 30, 2004 | 5:30 AM | 5:51 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:19 PM |
Mar 31, 2004 | 5:29 AM | 5:50 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:19 PM |
APRIL:
DATE | SUNRISE | SUNRISE | SUNSET | SUNSET |
TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | |
Apr 1, 2004 | 5:27 AM | 5:48 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:20 PM |
Apr 2, 2004 | 5:26 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:21 PM |
Apr 3, 2004 | 5:25 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:21 PM |
Apr 4, 2004 | 5:24 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:22 PM |
Apr 5, 2004 | 5:22 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:23 PM |
Apr 6, 2004 | 5:21 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:23 PM |
Apr 7, 2004 | 5:20 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:24 PM |
Apr 8, 2004 | 5:19 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:25 PM |
Apr 9, 2004 | 5:18 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:25 PM |
Apr 10, 2004 | 5:16 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:26 PM |
Apr 11, 2004 | 5:15 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:27 PM |
Apr 12, 2004 | 5:14 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:27 PM |
Apr 13, 2004 | 5:13 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:28 PM |
Apr 14, 2004 | 5:12 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:29 PM |
Apr 15, 2004 | 5:10 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:29 PM |
Apr 16, 2004 | 5:09 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:30 PM |
Apr 17, 2004 | 5:08 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:31 PM |
Apr 18, 2004 | 5:07 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:31 PM |
Apr 19, 2004 | 5:06 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:11 PM | 6:32 PM |
Apr 20, 2004 | 5:05 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:33 PM |
Apr 21, 2004 | 5:04 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:33 PM |
Apr 22, 2004 | 5:03 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:34 PM |
Apr 23, 2004 | 5:01 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:35 PM |
Apr 24, 2004 | 5:00 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:36 PM |
Apr 25, 2004 | 4:59 AM | 5:20 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:36 PM |
Apr 26, 2004 | 4:58 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:37 PM |
Apr 27, 2004 | 4:57 AM | 5:18 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:38 PM |
Apr 28, 2004 | 4:56 AM | 5:17 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:38 PM |
Apr 29, 2004 | 4:55 AM | 5:16 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:39 PM |
Apr 30, 2004 | 4:54 AM | 5:15 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:40 PM |
SEPTEMBER:
DATE | SUNRISE | SUNRISE | SUNSET | SUNSET |
TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | |
Sep 1, 2004 | 5:15 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:24 PM |
Sep 2, 2004 | 5:15 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:22 PM |
Sep 3, 2004 | 5:16 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:21 PM |
Sep 4, 2004 | 5:16 AM | 5:37 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:20 PM |
Sep 5, 2004 | 5:17 AM | 5:38 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:19 PM |
Sep 6, 2004 | 5:18 AM | 5:39 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:17 PM |
Sep 7, 2004 | 5:18 AM | 5:39 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:16 PM |
Sep 8, 2004 | 5:19 AM | 5:40 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:15 PM |
Sep 9, 2004 | 5:20 AM | 5:41 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:13 PM |
Sep 10, 2004 | 5:20 AM | 5:41 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:12 PM |
Sep 11, 2004 | 5:21 AM | 5:42 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:11 PM |
Sep 12, 2004 | 5:21 AM | 5:42 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:10 PM |
Sep 13, 2004 | 5:22 AM | 5:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:08 PM |
Sep 14, 2004 | 5:23 AM | 5:44 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:07 PM |
Sep 15, 2004 | 5:23 AM | 5:44 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:06 PM |
Sep 16, 2004 | 5:24 AM | 5:45 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:04 PM |
Sep 17, 2004 | 5:24 AM | 5:45 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:03 PM |
Sep 18, 2004 | 5:25 AM | 5:46 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:02 PM |
Sep 19, 2004 | 5:26 AM | 5:47 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:00 PM |
Sep 20, 2004 | 5:26 AM | 5:47 AM | 5:38 PM | 5:59 PM |
Sep 21, 2004 | 5:27 AM | 5:48 AM | 5:37 PM | 5:58 PM |
Sep 22, 2004 | 5:27 AM | 5:48 AM | 5:35 PM | 5:56 PM |
Sep 23, 2004 | 5:28 AM | 5:49 AM | 5:34 PM | 5:55 PM |
Sep 24, 2004 | 5:29 AM | 5:50 AM | 5:33 PM | 5:54 PM |
Sep 25, 2004 | 5:29 AM | 5:50 AM | 5:31 PM | 5:52 PM |
Sep 26, 2004 | 5:30 AM | 5:51 AM | 5:30 PM | 5:51 PM |
Sep 27, 2004 | 5:31 AM | 5:52 AM | 5:29 PM | 5:50 PM |
Sep 28, 2004 | 5:31 AM | 5:52 AM | 5:28 PM | 5:49 PM |
Sep 29, 2004 | 5:32 AM | 5:53 AM | 5:26 PM | 5:47 PM |
Sep 30, 2004 | 5:32 AM | 5:53 AM | 5:25 PM | 5:46 PM |
OCTOBER:
DATE | SUNRISE | SUNRISE | SUNSET | SUNSET |
TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | TIME ZONE TIME | LOCAL TIME | |
Oct 1, 2004 | 5:33 AM | 5:54 AM | 5:24 PM | 5:45 PM |
Oct 2, 2004 | 5:34 AM | 5:55 AM | 5:22 PM | 5:43 PM |
Oct 3, 2004 | 5:34 AM | 5:55 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:42 PM |
Oct 4, 2004 | 5:35 AM | 5:56 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:41 PM |
Oct 5, 2004 | 5:36 AM | 5:57 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:40 PM |
Oct 6, 2004 | 5:36 AM | 5:57 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:38 PM |
Oct 7, 2004 | 5:37 AM | 5:58 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:37 PM |
Oct 8, 2004 | 5:38 AM | 5:59 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:36 PM |
Oct 9, 2004 | 5:38 AM | 5:59 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:35 PM |
Oct 10, 2004 | 5:39 AM | 6:00 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:34 PM |
Oct 11, 2004 | 5:40 AM | 6:01 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:32 PM |
Oct 12, 2004 | 5:40 AM | 6:01 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:31 PM |
Oct 13, 2004 | 5:41 AM | 6:02 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:30 PM |
Oct 14, 2004 | 5:42 AM | 6:03 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:29 PM |
Oct 15, 2004 | 5:43 AM | 6:04 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:28 PM |
Oct 16, 2004 | 5:43 AM | 6:04 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:27 PM |
Oct 17, 2004 | 5:44 AM | 6:05 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:25 PM |
Oct 18, 2004 | 5:45 AM | 6:06 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:24 PM |
Oct 19, 2004 | 5:46 AM | 6:07 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:23 PM |
Oct 20, 2004 | 5:46 AM | 6:07 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:22 PM |
Oct 21, 2004 | 5:47 AM | 6:08 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:21 PM |
Oct 22, 2004 | 5:48 AM | 6:09 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:20 PM |
Oct 23, 2004 | 5:49 AM | 6:10 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:19 PM |
Oct 24, 2004 | 5:49 AM | 6:10 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:18 PM |
Oct 25, 2004 | 5:50 AM | 6:11 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:17 PM |
Oct 26, 2004 | 5:51 AM | 6:12 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:16 PM |
Oct 27, 2004 | 5:52 AM | 6:13 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:15 PM |
Oct 28, 2004 | 5:53 AM | 6:14 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:14 PM |
Oct 29, 2004 | 5:53 AM | 6:14 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:13 PM |
Oct 30, 2004 | 5:54 AM | 6:15 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:12 PM |
Oct 31, 2004 | 5:55 AM | 6:16 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:11 PM |