diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.3.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.3.rst
index 829b86dea5..82ce0a1e32 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.3.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.3.rst
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ Breaking Changes
   Use :py:func:`~pvlib.spectrum.spectral_factor_firstsolar` instead. (:issue:`2130`, :pull:`2131`)
 * Remove deprecated :py:func:`!pvlib.spectrum.get_am15g` function; use
   :py:func:`~pvlib.spectrum.get_reference_spectra` instead.  (:pull:`2409`)
+* Change default method of :py:func:`~pvlib.location.Location.get_sun_rise_set_transit`
+  to ``'spa'`` instead of ``'pyephem'``. (:pull:`2410`)
 
 Bug fixes
 ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/pvlib/location.py b/pvlib/location.py
index d1c9b4e2db..230ce26a66 100644
--- a/pvlib/location.py
+++ b/pvlib/location.py
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ 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.
 
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ def get_sun_rise_set_transit(self, times, method='pyephem', **kwargs):
         ----------
         times : DatetimeIndex
             Must be localized to the Location
-        method : str, default 'pyephem'
+        method : str, default 'spa'
             'pyephem', 'spa', or 'geometric'
 
         kwargs :