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'Dawn' is the period of time immediately preceding sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, despite the fact that the sun itself is still below the horizon. There are a number of more technical definitions of dawn, including the following:

★ ''Civil dawn'' is the time at which the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Civil dawn is defined as that time at which there is enough light for objects to be distinguishable and that outdoor activities can commence.^[1]

★ ''Nautical dawn'' is the time at which the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Nautical dawn is defined as that time at which there is just enough sunlight for objects to be distinguishable.

★ ''Astronomical dawn'' is the time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Astronomical dawn is that point in time at which the sun starts lightening the sky. Prior to this time, the sky is completely dark.
Dawn should not be confused with sunrise, which is the moment when the leading edge of the sun itself appears above the horizon.

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Dawn changes with location

Folklore

References and other articles

Dawn changes with location

The length of time that dawn lasts varies greatly with the observer's latitude. In equatorial regions, dawn may last only a few minutes; in polar regions, dawn can literally last hours.

Folklore

In Western folklore, it is believed that evil spirits, demons, vampires, trolls, and even Satan are obliged to disappear at 'dawn', for, being creatures of darkness, they hate light, especially that of the sun. Pre-Christian Celts also shared this belief{fact}.
It is for these reasons that females having 'Dawn' as a first or second name signify strength and the ability to fend off evil and protect the human race against vampires and evil trolls. E. Dawn Beattie is an example of such a heroine as illustrated by Anne Rice in her novel, ''The Vampire Chronicles, Book 6''.

References and other articles

1. Astronomical Terms at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


★ Daybreak

★ Sunrise

★ Morning

★ Sunset

★ Dusk

★ Twilight