Linda Custer

Q: source for apple watch sunrise sunset time

Does anyone know the source for the sunrise or sunset time shown on the sunrise complication on Apple Watch?

 

I know this is a silly question, but the sunrise and sunset times shown on my Utility watch face complication are always off by about 2 minutes. Apple's own weather app, as well as almost every other weather app I know, consistently state the time differently. I've re-started both the phone and watch, and confirmed that they show the same (correct) location. I've done this from several spots within my (smallish) town, and the results are always the same. They don't match with any of the surrounding towns either, so it can't be a question of GPS precision.

 

If I drive far enough for it to matter, the times do update to reflect the movement, and the watch weather app shows the new location, but then again the sunrise or sunset time is minutes off from Apple's own weather app and everywhere else I look for the new location. They don't improve if I wait, or if I restart the phone and the watch.

 

I'm wondering what data Apple queries to get the information. Where are those times coming from?

 

I agree that knowing the time correct to within a few minutes is perfectly adequate for my needs, but I'd just like to understand the bias.

Posted on Jan 31, 2016 7:56 AM