Today, Friday, October 2, 2026, golden hour in the United States runs from 07:05 to 07:40 in the morning (35 min) and from 18:13 to 18:49 in the evening (35 min), in local time (based on Washington, D.C.). Blue hour follows, from 19:05 to 19:26.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's night now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 06:28 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 06:48 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 07:05 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 07:40 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 12:57 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 18:13 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 18:49 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 19:05 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 19:26 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2 | 07:05 – 07:40 | 18:13 – 18:49 | 06:28 – 06:48 | 19:05 – 19:26 | 35 min |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 07:06 – 07:41 | 18:12 – 18:47 | 06:29 – 06:49 | 19:03 – 19:24 | 35 min |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 07:06 – 07:42 | 18:10 – 18:46 | 06:29 – 06:50 | 19:02 – 19:22 | 35 min |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 07:07 – 07:43 | 18:09 – 18:44 | 06:30 – 06:51 | 19:00 – 19:21 | 35 min |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 07:08 – 07:44 | 18:07 – 18:42 | 06:31 – 06:52 | 18:59 – 19:19 | 35 min |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 07:09 – 07:45 | 18:05 – 18:41 | 06:32 – 06:53 | 18:57 – 19:18 | 36 min |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 07:10 – 07:46 | 18:04 – 18:39 | 06:33 – 06:54 | 18:56 – 19:16 | 36 min |
How long golden hour lasts in the United States through the year
At 38.91° N, 77.04° W, the evening golden hour is longest in December (42 minutes around the 15th) and shortest in March (35 minutes). Today the Sun climbs from the horizon to 6° in 35 minutes, which is about 11.7° 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 | 07:25 | 41 min | 41 min | 17:10 |
| February | 06:59 | 37 min | 37 min | 17:45 |
| March | 07:19 | 35 min | 35 min | 19:15 |
| April | 06:31 | 36 min | 36 min | 19:45 |
| May | 05:55 | 38 min | 38 min | 20:14 |
| June | 05:42 | 40 min | 40 min | 20:35 |
| July | 05:55 | 39 min | 39 min | 20:32 |
| August | 06:21 | 37 min | 36 min | 20:02 |
| September | 06:49 | 35 min | 35 min | 19:16 |
| October | 07:17 | 36 min | 36 min | 18:29 |
| November | 06:50 | 39 min | 39 min | 16:54 |
| December | 07:19 | 42 min | 42 min | 16:47 |
Making the most of golden hour in the United States today
- Evening: be in position by 17:48, 25 minutes before the window opens at 18:13. Sunset is at 18:49, and blue hour keeps going until 19:26.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (07:05) and lasts until 07:40.
- Avoid solar noon (12:57), 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 Washington, D.C. (38.91° N, 77.04° W) and shown in the local time zone (America/New_York, 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 the United States 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 the United States
- Current time in the United States
- Golden hour in every state and country
- Moon phase today · Longest day of the year · Shortest day of the year
Other places
Coordinates used: 38.91° N, 77.04° W