Today, Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Sun rises at 05:31 and sets at 17:52 in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), local time UTC-3. Daylight lasts 12h 21min, 1min 20s more than yesterday.
The Sun today in Rio de Janeiro
It's daytime now Sunset in 4h 56min.
Compared with yesterday, today is 1min 20s longer, and tomorrow will be 1min 19s longer than today: in Rio de Janeiro the days are getting longer, heading toward the December 21 solstice. Solar noon, when the Sun crosses the local meridian, falls at 11:41, which is 19 minutes before 12:00 on the clock. That gap comes from the position of Rio de Janeiro inside its time zone (UTC-3) and from the equation of time, which moves solar noon by up to 16 minutes through the year.
Twilight and golden hour
| Phase | Time |
|---|---|
| Civil twilight begins | 05:08 |
| Morning golden hour | 05:31 – 06:01 |
| Sunrise | 05:31 |
| Solar noon | 11:41 |
| Evening golden hour | 17:22 – 17:52 |
| Sunset | 17:52 |
| Civil twilight ends | 18:15 |
In Rio de Janeiro civil twilight lasts 23 minutes at each end of the day today, so it is light enough to walk outdoors from 05:08 to 18:15. The golden hour, when the Sun is less than 6° above the horizon and the light is soft and warm, lasts about 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening (photographers also use it for the best light on landscapes and portraits).
Next 7 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 3 | 05:31 | 17:52 | 12h 21min | +1min 20s |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 05:30 | 17:52 | 12h 22min | +1min 19s |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 05:29 | 17:53 | 12h 23min | +1min 19s |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 05:28 | 17:53 | 12h 25min | +1min 19s |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 05:27 | 17:53 | 12h 26min | +1min 19s |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 05:26 | 17:54 | 12h 27min | +1min 19s |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 05:25 | 17:54 | 12h 28min | +1min 19s |
Day length through the year in Rio de Janeiro
View data table
| Month | Day length |
|---|---|
| January | 13h 22min |
| February | 12h 50min |
| March | 12h 13min |
| April | 11h 33min |
| May | 11h 00min |
| June | 10h 44min |
| July | 10h 51min |
| August | 11h 19min |
| September | 11h 57min |
| October | 12h 36min |
| November | 13h 13min |
| December | 13h 32min |
How day length changes through the year in Rio de Janeiro
| Key date | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (start of autumn) | March 20 | 05:56 | 18:03 | 12h 7min |
| June solstice (start of winter) | June 21 | 06:32 | 17:16 | 10h 43min |
| September equinox (start of spring) | September 22 | 05:42 | 17:48 | 12h 6min |
| December solstice (start of summer) | December 21 | 05:04 | 18:37 | 13h 32min |
The longest days in Rio de Janeiro come around December, with 13h 32min of daylight, and the shortest around June, with 10h 43min. The seasonal swing is 2h 49min, a clearly noticeable change at 22.91° S, where summer evenings stay light much longer than winter ones.
Time zone and comparison with the state capital
Rio de Janeiro uses the same time as Brasília (UTC-3). This is the same zone as most of the country and the one used for the official Brazilian time. As the capital of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro is the reference point for the state: other cities see the Sun a few minutes earlier or later, about 4 minutes for each degree of longitude.
Moon today
Today the Moon is Last Quarter, with about 46% of its disc lit and an age of 22.5 days. See the full moon calendar.
Rio de Janeiro at a glance
- StateRio de Janeiro (RJ)
- Coordinates22.91° S, 43.20° W
- Time zoneUTC-3 (America/Sao_Paulo)
- Area code (DDD)21
- IBGE code3304557
- Difference from BrasíliaSame time as Brasília
Cities near Rio de Janeiro
| City | Distance | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niterói | 10 km | 05:31 | 17:52 |
| São Gonçalo | 17 km | 05:30 | 17:51 |
| Duque de Caxias | 18 km | 05:31 | 17:52 |
| São João de Meriti | 21 km | 05:32 | 17:53 |
| Nilópolis | 26 km | 05:32 | 17:53 |
| Belford Roxo | 26 km | 05:32 | 17:53 |
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in Rio de Janeiro and all its cities
- Current time in Rio de Janeiro
- Sunrise and sunset in every state and country · Start of the seasons
Times are calculated astronomically for the urban centre and are accurate to about a minute; sunrise and sunset use the upper edge of the Sun and atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings can change the visible time.