Q&A: The Time of Nightfall in Different Locations Around the Globe
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Time of Nightfall in Different Locations Around the Globe
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Do you think that the time gap between sunset and the appearance of the stars differs in different locations around the globe (from a halakhic perspective)? In other words, is it possible that the method stated in the Talmud for calculating the time gap applies only to Babylonia and is not relevant to other places?
Best regards,
Answer
I am not sufficiently familiar with this topic. In general, it seems that there can be differences between places.
I just now saw that the Vilna Gaon wrote that this measure of three-quarters of a mil applies specifically at the horizon of the Land of Israel and Babylonia, and in the days of Nisan and Tishrei, which are the average places and times; but in countries that incline north of the equator, the twilight period becomes longer.