Today, Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Sun rises at 05:08 and sets at 17:18 in Santa Cruz (RN), local time UTC-3. Daylight lasts 12h 10min, 20s more than yesterday.
The Sun today in Santa Cruz
It's nighttime now Sunrise in 10h 10min.
Compared with yesterday, today is 20s longer, and tomorrow will be 21s longer than today: in Santa Cruz the days are getting longer, heading toward the December 21 solstice. Solar noon, when the Sun crosses the local meridian, falls at 11:13, which is 47 minutes before 12:00 on the clock. That gap comes from the position of Santa Cruz 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 | 04:47 |
| Morning golden hour | 05:08 – 05:35 |
| Sunrise | 05:08 |
| Solar noon | 11:13 |
| Evening golden hour | 16:50 – 17:18 |
| Sunset | 17:18 |
| Civil twilight ends | 17:39 |
In Santa Cruz civil twilight lasts 21 minutes at each end of the day today, so it is light enough to walk outdoors from 04:47 to 17:39. The golden hour, when the Sun is less than 6° above the horizon and the light is soft and warm, lasts about 27 minutes in the morning and 27 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 | 05:08 | 17:18 | 12h 10min | +20s |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 05:07 | 17:18 | 12h 10min | +21s |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 05:07 | 17:17 | 12h 10min | +21s |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 05:06 | 17:17 | 12h 11min | +20s |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 05:06 | 17:17 | 12h 11min | +21s |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 05:05 | 17:17 | 12h 11min | +20s |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 05:05 | 17:17 | 12h 12min | +21s |
Day length through the year in Santa Cruz
View data table
| Month | Day length |
|---|---|
| January | 12h 26min |
| February | 12h 17min |
| March | 12h 08min |
| April | 11h 57min |
| May | 11h 49min |
| June | 11h 45min |
| July | 11h 47min |
| August | 11h 54min |
| September | 12h 04min |
| October | 12h 14min |
| November | 12h 23min |
| December | 12h 29min |
How day length changes through the year in Santa Cruz
| Key date | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (start of autumn) | March 20 | 05:28 | 17:34 | 12h 6min |
| June solstice (start of winter) | June 21 | 05:33 | 17:18 | 11h 45min |
| September equinox (start of spring) | September 22 | 05:13 | 17:20 | 12h 6min |
| December solstice (start of summer) | December 21 | 05:07 | 17:36 | 12h 29min |
The longest days in Santa Cruz come around December, with 12h 29min of daylight, and the shortest around June, with 11h 45min. The seasonal swing is 0h 43min, a modest change typical of the tropics (6.22° S).
Time zone and comparison with the state capital
Santa Cruz 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. Compared with Natal, the state capital (103 km away), the Sun rises 3 min later on the clock and sets 3 min later. Today's daylight is 12h 10min here versus 12h 9min in Natal.
Moon today
Today the Moon is Last Quarter, with about 43% of its disc lit and an age of 22.8 days. See the full moon calendar.
Santa Cruz at a glance
- StateRio Grande do Norte (RN)
- Coordinates6.22° S, 36.02° W
- Time zoneUTC-3 (America/Sao_Paulo)
- Area code (DDD)84
- IBGE code2411205
- Difference from BrasíliaSame time as Brasília
Cities near Santa Cruz
| City | Distance | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lajes Pintadas | 14 km | 05:08 | 17:18 |
| São Bento do Trairí | 15 km | 05:08 | 17:18 |
| Sítio Novo | 18 km | 05:07 | 17:17 |
| Campo Redondo | 19 km | 05:08 | 17:18 |
| Tangará | 25 km | 05:07 | 17:17 |
| Coronel Ezequiel | 28 km | 05:08 | 17:19 |
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in Rio Grande do Norte and all its cities
- Sunrise and sunset in Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte
- Current time in Rio Grande do Norte
- 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.