Today, Friday, October 2, 2026, golden hour in Canada runs from 07:16 to 07:54 in the morning (38 min) and from 18:18 to 18:56 in the evening (38 min), in local time (based on Ottawa). Blue hour follows, from 19:14 to 19:36.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's night now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 06:36 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 06:58 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 07:16 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 07:54 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 13:06 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 18:18 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 18:56 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 19:14 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 19:36 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2 | 07:16 – 07:54 | 18:18 – 18:56 | 06:36 – 06:58 | 19:14 – 19:36 | 38 min |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 07:17 – 07:55 | 18:16 – 18:54 | 06:37 – 06:59 | 19:12 – 19:34 | 38 min |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 07:18 – 07:56 | 18:14 – 18:52 | 06:38 – 07:01 | 19:10 – 19:32 | 38 min |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 07:19 – 07:58 | 18:13 – 18:51 | 06:40 – 07:02 | 19:08 – 19:30 | 38 min |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 07:21 – 07:59 | 18:11 – 18:49 | 06:41 – 07:03 | 19:07 – 19:29 | 38 min |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 07:22 – 08:00 | 18:09 – 18:47 | 06:42 – 07:04 | 19:05 – 19:27 | 38 min |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 07:23 – 08:01 | 18:07 – 18:45 | 06:43 – 07:05 | 19:03 – 19:25 | 38 min |
How long golden hour lasts in Canada through the year
At 43.65° N, 79.38° W, the evening golden hour is longest in December (47 minutes around the 15th) and shortest in March (38 minutes). Today the Sun climbs from the horizon to 6° in 38 minutes, which is about 10.8° of elevation per hour; on the equator at an equinox that rate is close to 15° per hour. The farther the rate falls below 15°, the longer the soft light lasts.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden morning | Golden evening | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:47 | 45 min | 45 min | 17:06 |
| February | 07:15 | 40 min | 40 min | 17:47 |
| March | 07:29 | 38 min | 38 min | 19:23 |
| April | 06:34 | 38 min | 39 min | 20:01 |
| May | 05:52 | 41 min | 41 min | 20:36 |
| June | 05:35 | 44 min | 44 min | 21:00 |
| July | 05:49 | 43 min | 43 min | 20:56 |
| August | 06:22 | 39 min | 39 min | 20:20 |
| September | 06:56 | 38 min | 38 min | 19:27 |
| October | 07:31 | 39 min | 39 min | 18:33 |
| November | 07:11 | 43 min | 43 min | 16:52 |
| December | 07:44 | 47 min | 47 min | 16:41 |
Making the most of golden hour in Canada today
- Evening: be in position by 17:53, 25 minutes before the window opens at 18:18. Sunset is at 18:56, and blue hour keeps going until 19:36.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (07:16) and lasts until 07:54.
- Avoid solar noon (13:06), when the Sun is highest, shadows are short and contrast is harsh.
- Shoot with the Sun behind or beside the subject for a glow, and expose for the highlights. More tips are on the golden hour guide.
Time zone and coordinates
All times are calculated astronomically for Ottawa (43.65° N, 79.38° W) and shown in the local time zone (America/Toronto, UTC-4). Golden hour is defined here as the period from sunrise until the Sun is 6° above the horizon and from 6° until sunset, and blue hour as the Sun between 4° and 8° below the horizon. Other cities in Canada differ by about 4 minutes per degree of longitude and by their latitude. In countries that span several time zones, the clock time also depends on the zone. Values are accurate to within about a minute and do not account for mountains, buildings or clouds.
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in Canada
- Current time in Canada
- Golden hour in every state and country
- Moon phase today · Longest day of the year · Shortest day of the year
Other places
Coordinates used: 43.65° N, 79.38° W