Today, Thursday, October 29, 2026, golden hour in the United States runs from 07:32 to 08:09 in the morning (37 min) and from 17:33 to 18:10 in the evening (37 min), in local time (based on Washington, D.C.). Blue hour follows, from 18:27 to 18:48.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's blue hour now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 06:54 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 07:15 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 07:32 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 08:09 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 12:51 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 17:33 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 18:10 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 18:27 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 18:48 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 29 | 07:32 – 08:09 | 17:33 – 18:10 | 06:54 – 07:15 | 18:27 – 18:48 | 37 min |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 07:33 – 08:10 | 17:32 – 18:09 | 06:55 – 07:16 | 18:26 – 18:47 | 37 min |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 07:34 – 08:11 | 17:31 – 18:08 | 06:56 – 07:17 | 18:25 – 18:46 | 38 min |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 06:35 – 07:13 | 16:29 – 17:07 | 05:57 – 06:18 | 17:24 – 17:45 | 38 min |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 06:36 – 07:14 | 16:28 – 17:06 | 05:58 – 06:19 | 17:23 – 17:44 | 38 min |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 06:37 – 07:15 | 16:27 – 17:05 | 05:59 – 06:20 | 17:22 – 17:43 | 38 min |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 06:38 – 07:16 | 16:26 – 17:04 | 06:00 – 06:21 | 17:21 – 17:42 | 38 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 37 minutes, which is about 11.1° 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 17:08, 25 minutes before the window opens at 17:33. Sunset is at 18:10, and blue hour keeps going until 18:48.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (07:32) and lasts until 08:09.
- Avoid solar noon (12:51), 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