Sunset today: exact time and how long the light lasts
Today’s sunset for your location, plus the two times that matter once the sun has gone: when the blue hour ends and you need lights to walk, and when the sky is fully dark.
Calculating for your location…
Next 7 days ·
Three stages of twilight
Civil twilight runs from sunset until the sun is 6° below the horizon. There is enough natural light for most things outdoors, street lights come on, and it is the blue hour. Nautical twilight continues to 12° below: the horizon at sea is still visible and the brightest stars are out. Astronomical twilight ends at 18° below; after that the sky is as dark as it gets, and away from city lights you can see faint stars and the Milky Way.
How long it stays light after sunset
| Latitude | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Dec 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equator | 21 min fully dark after 1 h 8 min | 23 min fully dark after 1 h 15 min | 23 min fully dark after 1 h 15 min |
| 20° N | 22 min fully dark after 1 h 13 min | 25 min fully dark after 1 h 24 min | 24 min fully dark after 1 h 18 min |
| 30° N | 24 min fully dark after 1 h 20 min | 27 min fully dark after 1 h 36 min | 26 min fully dark after 1 h 25 min |
| 40° N | 27 min fully dark after 1 h 31 min | 33 min fully dark after 2 h 3 min | 31 min fully dark after 1 h 37 min |
| 50° N | 32 min fully dark after 1 h 50 min | 45 min never fully dark | 39 min fully dark after 1 h 59 min |
| 60° N | 42 min fully dark after 2 h 26 min | 107 min never fully dark | 58 min fully dark after 2 h 46 min |
At New York’s latitude, about 40°, you get roughly half an hour of usable light after sunset and full darkness an hour and a half later. Near the equator both come much sooner; in northern Europe in June the sky never gets fully dark.
Planning an evening walk
For the best light, head out about half an hour before sunset. You get the end of golden hour, the sunset itself and the whole blue hour, and you are back as it gets dark. The magic hour countdown and its calendar subscription can remind you every day.