diff --git a/pvlib/location.py b/pvlib/location.py
index 9259f410fa..bd53eaa391 100644
--- a/pvlib/location.py
+++ b/pvlib/location.py
@@ -328,15 +328,15 @@ def get_airmass(self, times=None, solar_position=None,
 
         return airmass
 
-    def get_sun_rise_set_transit(self, times, method='pyephem', **kwargs):
+    def get_sun_rise_set_transit(self, times, method='spa', **kwargs):
         """
-        Calculate sunrise, sunset and transit times.
+        Calculate sunrise, sunset, and transit times.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         times : DatetimeIndex
             Must be localized to the Location
-        method : str, default 'pyephem'
+        method : str, default 'spa'
             'pyephem', 'spa', or 'geometric'
 
         kwargs :