Watch the sunrise

To watch the sunrise you need ten minutes outside and one thing: getting up. In fall that’s easier than it sounds, because the sun rises later than it does in summer, so you don’t have to be up in the middle of the night. It’s a calm, free way to start a day well.

Check the time

Look up tomorrow’s sunrise time for your town, on a weather app or a search. It changes every day, and in fall it gets later each morning. Don’t use yesterday’s time.

Plan to be at your spot about 15 to 30 minutes before. The sky starts to glow before the sun appears, and that’s often the prettiest part, as the catalogue says. The colours build slowly, fade as the sun rises, and by then the best of it is over.

Then work backward:

1. Sunrise time, minus 15 to 30 minutes, is when you should be there.
2. Take off the travel time.
3. Take off time to get dressed and make a drink.
4. That’s your alarm. Set a second one for five minutes later.

Pick your spot

You need a clear view toward the east, where the sun comes up. The best spots have an open horizon and nothing in the way.

• A hill, a park with a rise, or a field
• A beach or a lakeshore facing east
• A bridge or a viewpoint, provided it’s safe and open
• A rooftop, balcony or high window, if you have one
• Your own street or yard, if it faces the right way. You don’t need to go far.

Check it out in daylight beforehand. Look at where the sun sets, and the sunrise will be roughly opposite. A compass app on your phone will point east. Check that the place is open at that hour, because some parks and lots aren’t.

Sunrise sits a little further south as fall goes on, so a spot that works in September might be blocked by October.

Check the sky

Look at the forecast the night before. A sky with a few clouds near the horizon is often best, because the clouds catch the light and turn pink and orange. A clear sky can be pale and a thick, solid overcast can hide it entirely. You can’t control it, so try not to decide in advance whether it’s worth it. Go anyway: the quiet is the point.

What to wear

Early mornings in fall are properly cold, and you’ll be standing still.

• A warm coat, a hat and gloves
• A scarf
• Warm socks and closed shoes
• A blanket or a folding stool to sit on, if the ground is damp. Dew soaks through.
• A thermos of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The catalogue recommends something warm for a reason.

Stay safe in the dark

You’ll be out before it’s properly light, so use common sense.

• Choose a public, familiar place, not somewhere isolated.
• Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
• Bring a flashlight, and keep your phone charged.
• Park in a legal spot, and watch the road in the dark. Don’t stand in the road to see the sky.
• Watch your footing on wet grass, steps and rocks.
• If you drive, make sure you’re awake enough to drive. A hot drink helps, and so does going with a friend.
• If you feel uneasy, go home. There’s always another sunrise.

While you wait

Arrive, settle in and don’t be in a hurry. In the half hour before sunrise, the sky goes from dark blue to pink and orange, and the colours change every few minutes. Put your phone down for part of it.

• Turn around and look behind you. The sky to the west can turn soft pink.
• Look at the ground, too. Frost, mist and dew look beautiful in this light.
• Listen. Birds start up well before the sun is up.
• When the sun appears, you’ve got about a minute of bright orange. Don’t look straight at it once it’s above the horizon, and never through binoculars or a camera.

If something goes wrong

• It’s cloudy. You’ll still get a soft glow and a quiet morning. Wait a bit longer, and see if there’s a gap near the horizon.
• You overslept. Go anyway. Even if you miss the colours, a sunrise after a cold night is worth seeing.
• You can’t see the sun. There may be a hill or buildings in the way. Look for somewhere with a lower horizon next time.
• You’re cold. Add layers and drink something hot. Stamp your feet or walk a little.

Make it a fall morning

Make it a ritual: a thermos, a blanket and a pastry in your bag, and breakfast somewhere cozy afterwards. A hot cider in a thermos is a good match for a cold dawn. It’s also easy to add to a trip: if you’re camping, the sun comes up right outside your tent.