So, you're looking for the exact moment the day ends. You probably just want a quick number to plan a jog or a photo op. But honestly, asking sunset is at what time today is actually a bit of a trick question.
If you look at your phone right now, it’ll give you a specific minute—let’s say 5:14 PM. But if you're standing on top of a skyscraper or staring out at the ocean in California, that sun is still going to be visible long after your neighbor in a valley thinks it's gone. Light is bendy. Atmosphere is thick. It’s kinda wild how much goes into that one little timestamp.
The geometry of sunset is at what time today
Most people think sunset is when the sun touches the horizon. Actually, by the time you see the bottom of the sun "touch" the edge of the world, the sun has technically already set. Physics is funny like that. Because the Earth's atmosphere is so dense, it acts like a giant lens. It refracts—or bends—the light upward. You are essentially looking at a mirage of the sun for the last couple of minutes.
It's gone. But you still see it.
Atmospheric refraction and your local clock
Refraction adds about 34 minutes of arc to the sun’s apparent position. In plain English? You get about two to three extra minutes of "daylight" that shouldn't legally be there. If you're in a cold climate, like central Canada or Scandinavia, the air is denser, and the bending effect is even more pronounced. On a freezing day, the sun might seem to linger, refusing to drop, looking like a squashed orange.
Why your weather app might be lying to you
We've all been there. You check the app, it says 6:02 PM, and you get to the beach at 5:55 PM only to find the sun already tucked away behind a bank of clouds or a distant hill. Apps calculate sunset based on a "mathematical horizon"—a perfectly flat line at sea level.
But you don't live on a pool table.
If you have mountains to your west, "sunset" happens much earlier for you than the official time. Conversely, if you're on the 50th floor of a building in New York or Chicago, you get to keep the sun for a few minutes longer than the person walking their dog on the sidewalk below. Height matters. For every 100 meters of elevation, you delay sunset by about one minute.
The three types of twilight you need to know
Most folks think it's day, then it's night. Not really. After the actual sunset, we enter "twilight," and there are three distinct stages that photographers and sailors obsess over.
- Civil Twilight: This is the period immediately after sunset when there is still enough light to do stuff outside without a flashlight. The sun is less than 6 degrees below the horizon. Most city streetlights kick on right at the end of this phase.
- Nautical Twilight: The sun is 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. You can see the horizon line at sea, but the stars are starting to pop. This is that deep, moody blue you see in cinema.
- Astronomical Twilight: The sun is 12 to 18 degrees down. To the average person, it’s just "dark." But for astronomers, there’s still a tiny bit of solar interference in the sky. Only after this ends is it "True Night."
Sunset is at what time today depends on your latitude
If you’re near the equator, the sun drops like a stone. It’s almost violent. One minute it’s bright, the next it’s pitch black. This is because the sun’s path is nearly vertical.
But move up to London, Seattle, or Berlin, and the sun slides down at a lazy angle. This creates those long, lingering summer evenings where you can sit on a patio at 10:00 PM and still see a glow in the north. The "Golden Hour" in these places lasts way longer than an hour. It’s more like the "Golden Two-and-a-Half Hours."
📖 Related: Why Womens Capri Leggings With Pockets Are Basically The Only Pants You Need Right Now
The Green Flash: A real sunset phenomenon
You've probably heard someone at a beach bar mention the "Green Flash." It sounds like a myth or something sailors made up after too much rum. But it’s a real, documented optical event.
Right as the very last sliver of the sun disappears, the atmosphere can split the light into its constituent colors. Because of the way light scatters, the red and orange disappear first, leaving a brilliant, emerald green spark for maybe a second. You need a very clear horizon—usually over water—and zero haze. It’s the "holy grail" of sunset watching.
How to use today’s sunset time for better health
Believe it or not, knowing when the sun goes down isn't just for aesthetics. Our bodies are hardwired to the 24-hour light/dark cycle, known as the circadian rhythm.
👉 See also: VI Peel Day by Day Photos: What Your Skin Actually Looks Like During the Process
Dr. Satchin Panda at the Salk Institute has done extensive research on how timing our light exposure affects everything from insulin sensitivity to sleep quality. He suggests that seeing the sunset—specifically those long-wavelength red and orange lights—signals the brain to start producing melatonin.
Pro tip: Stop using your phone the second the sun sets. The blue light from your screen mimics the high-noon sun and confuses your brain into thinking it’s 12:00 PM, which is why you’re still scrolling at 1:00 AM.
Practical steps for planning your evening
Don't just look at the number on your screen. If you want to actually enjoy the sunset or use the light for a project, you have to be smarter than the algorithm.
- Check the "Golden Hour" apps: Tools like PhotoPills or Helios give you the angle of the sun, not just the time. This tells you if a building is going to block your view.
- Arrive 20 minutes early: The best colors usually happen before the sun actually hits the horizon, as the light hits the underside of high-altitude clouds.
- Look East: Sometimes the best part of the sunset isn't the sun itself, but the "Belt of Venus"—that pinkish-blue glow on the opposite side of the sky.
- Calculate for elevation: If you're hiking, remember that the "official" sunset time might leave you in the dark while you're still in a canyon. Always add a 30-minute buffer for safety.
The clock says one thing, but the atmosphere says another. Whether you're chasing the perfect photo or just trying to time your walk home, remember that sunset is a process, not just a point in time. Get outside a few minutes before the "official" time, look up, and let your eyes adjust to the fading light. It’s the best free show on Earth, every single day.