Aufgang

Aufgang is a German noun meaning rising or ascent. It can refer to the moment when something rises, most commonly the sunrise, as in Sonnenaufgang, but also to a physical ascent, such as a staircase or ramp in a building, or more generally to the way something comes into being or develops.

Etymology: The word derives from auf- meaning "up" and Gang meaning "going" or "passage," and is related to Untergang, the opposite sense of going down or a decline.

In architecture and built environments: Aufgang denotes a flight of stairs or a stairwell that connects floors. It can be internal or external and may play a functional or architectural role in the circulation of a building.

Astronomy and navigation: Sonnenaufgang is the sunrise, while Aufgang can describe the rising of the Moon or planets. The time of Aufgang varies with location and date and is calculated by astronomical tables or ephemerides.

In culture and language: Metaphorically, Aufgang can signify beginnings, emergence, or revival, and appears in literature and discourse to denote a new phase or the start of an event.