Today, Friday, October 2, 2026, golden hour in Rio de Janeiro runs from 05:32 to 06:01 in the morning (30 min) and from 17:22 to 17:52 in the evening (30 min), in local time (based on Rio de Janeiro). Blue hour follows, from 18:05 to 18:23.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's night now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 05:00 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 05:18 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 05:32 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 06:01 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 11:42 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 17:22 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 17:52 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 18:05 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 18:23 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2 | 05:32 – 06:01 | 17:22 – 17:52 | 05:00 – 05:18 | 18:05 – 18:23 | 30 min |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 05:31 – 06:00 | 17:22 – 17:52 | 04:59 – 05:17 | 18:06 – 18:23 | 30 min |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 05:30 – 06:00 | 17:23 – 17:52 | 04:58 – 05:16 | 18:06 – 18:24 | 30 min |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 05:29 – 05:59 | 17:23 – 17:53 | 04:57 – 05:15 | 18:07 – 18:24 | 30 min |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 05:28 – 05:58 | 17:23 – 17:53 | 04:56 – 05:14 | 18:07 – 18:24 | 30 min |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 05:27 – 05:57 | 17:24 – 17:53 | 04:55 – 05:13 | 18:07 – 18:25 | 30 min |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 05:26 – 05:56 | 17:24 – 17:54 | 04:55 – 05:12 | 18:08 – 18:25 | 30 min |
How long golden hour lasts in Rio de Janeiro through the year
At 22.91° S, 43.17° W, the evening golden hour is longest in June (33 minutes around the 15th) and shortest in February (30 minutes). Today the Sun climbs from the horizon to 6° in 30 minutes, which is about 13.7° 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 | 05:20 | 32 min | 32 min | 18:43 |
| February | 05:41 | 30 min | 30 min | 18:31 |
| March | 05:54 | 30 min | 30 min | 18:08 |
| April | 06:05 | 30 min | 30 min | 17:39 |
| May | 06:18 | 32 min | 32 min | 17:19 |
| June | 06:31 | 33 min | 33 min | 17:15 |
| July | 06:33 | 33 min | 33 min | 17:24 |
| August | 06:17 | 31 min | 31 min | 17:36 |
| September | 05:49 | 30 min | 30 min | 17:46 |
| October | 05:20 | 30 min | 30 min | 17:56 |
| November | 05:00 | 31 min | 31 min | 18:13 |
| December | 05:01 | 33 min | 33 min | 18:33 |
Making the most of golden hour in Rio de Janeiro today
- Evening: be in position by 16:57, 25 minutes before the window opens at 17:22. Sunset is at 17:52, and blue hour keeps going until 18:23.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (05:32) and lasts until 06:01.
- Avoid solar noon (11:42), 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 Rio de Janeiro (22.91° S, 43.17° W) and shown in the local time zone (America/Sao_Paulo, UTC-3). 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. They refer to the state capital; in other cities of Rio de Janeiro the times shift by about 4 minutes per degree of longitude. Values are accurate to within about a minute and do not account for mountains, buildings or clouds.
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in Rio de Janeiro
- Current time in Rio de Janeiro
- Golden hour in every state and country
- Moon phase today · Longest day of the year · Shortest day of the year
Neighbouring states
All states
Coordinates used: 22.91° S, 43.17° W