You’re standing there, phone out, waiting for that perfect burst of orange and pink to hit the horizon. You probably checked a weather app or just Googled what time does the sunset today, but here is the thing: the number you see isn't always the "real" sunset.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how much goes into a single daily event we mostly take for granted. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the sun is scheduled to dip below the horizon in San Francisco at 5:16 PM. If you are just across the bay in Vallejo or Pinole, you are looking at 5:15 PM.
Wait. One minute difference for a twenty-minute drive?
Yep. Sunset times are incredibly sensitive to your exact coordinates. Even a few miles east or west shifts the timing. But the clock isn't the only thing lying to you.
What Time Does the Sunset Today (and Why the Clock is Lying)
When you look at your screen and see a specific time, that is the astronomical sunset. It’s a mathematical calculation based on when the upper limb of the sun disappears below the horizon.
But science has a sense of humor.
Because of something called atmospheric refraction, you are actually seeing a ghost of the sun. The Earth's atmosphere acts like a giant lens. It bends the light. By the time you see the sun "touch" the horizon, it has technically already moved below it. You’re looking at a projection.
You’ve basically been watching a 5-minute delayed broadcast your entire life.
The Refraction Factor
Standard calculators assume a refraction of about 34 arcminutes. But if the air is particularly cold or the pressure is weird, that timing can wiggle by several minutes. In places like Edmonton or even chilly Northern California winters, the "actual" sunset you witness might be a couple of minutes off from the app's prediction.
The Three Flavors of Twilight
Most people think once the sun hits the water, the show is over. They pack up their tripods and head to the car.
Big mistake.
The time after what time does the sunset today is actually where the real magic happens. Astronomers break this down into three distinct phases of twilight:
- Civil Twilight: This is the immediate 20-30 minutes after sunset. It’s still bright enough to read a book outside. The sky is often a vibrant gradient of orange and yellow.
- Nautical Twilight: This is when the horizon becomes blurry. Sailors used to use this time to navigate by the stars. The sky turns a deep, moody indigo.
- Astronomical Twilight: This is the "almost dark" phase. For most of us, it just looks like night, but for telescope nerds, there’s still a tiny bit of solar interference in the sky.
Why Your Photos Look Better 15 Minutes Late
If you’re a photographer, you’ve heard of the Golden Hour. It’s that period just before the sun sets when everything looks like it’s been dipped in honey.
But have you met the Blue Hour?
Blue hour happens after the sun is gone. The light is soft. The shadows are non-existent. It’s that "cinematic" look people try to fake with filters. If you stay 15 to 20 minutes after the official sunset time today, you’ll catch those deep purples and electric blues that make city lights pop.
"Everyone and their mother wants photos at golden hour... if you wait for blue hour, you will just about have the whole beach to yourself!" — Whitehurst Photo
It’s true. The crowds leave. The light gets better. You win.
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The Weird Logic of Winter Sunsets
It feels like the days should be getting longer at a steady pace now that we’re past the Winter Solstice, right?
Well, sorta.
The Earth doesn't move in a perfect circle; it’s an ellipse. Plus, we’re tilted. Because we are actually closest to the sun in January (perihelion), the Earth is moving faster in its orbit. This creates a weird "lag" in our clocks.
Even though the total day length is increasing by about 1 minute and 27 seconds every day right now, the sunrise and sunset don’t move in sync. The sunset "races away" faster than the sunrise "retreats."
It’s asymmetrical. Nature is messy.
Actionable Tips for Chasing the Sun Tonight
If you are planning to catch the sunset, don't just wing it.
- Arrive 30 minutes early. The "Golden Hour" is the warmup. You want to be set up before the light starts changing rapidly.
- Check the clouds. You actually want some clouds. A perfectly clear sky is boring. High-altitude cirrus clouds (the wispy ones) catch the red light from below the horizon and create those "fire in the sky" effects.
- Look East. Seriously. Sometimes the best color isn't where the sun is. The "Belt of Venus"—that pinkish band opposite the sun—is often more stunning than the sunset itself.
- Use a tripod. Once the sun is down, your camera needs to keep the shutter open longer. If you’re holding it by hand, you’re going to get a blurry mess.
Checking what time does the sunset today is just the starting point. Whether you are in San Francisco at 5:16 PM or anywhere else in the world, the real show starts the moment the sun disappears.
Stay for the blue hour. Watch the refraction. Don't trust the ghost sun.
For the most accurate experience, use a high-precision tool like the NOAA Solar Calculator which allows you to plug in your exact latitude and longitude down to the decimal point. This accounts for your specific elevation, which can add or subtract precious seconds from your viewing window.