You’re staring at your phone, squinting against the glare of a fading sky, wondering why the hell it’s already getting dark. Or maybe you're planning a run. Maybe you’re just trying to time that perfect photo for Instagram before the light turns into a murky grey mess. Honestly, asking what time did the sunset today is one of those daily rituals that connects us to the planet more than we realize.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you are in New York City, the sun dipped below the horizon at exactly 4:54 PM. In Los Angeles? You had until 5:04 PM. But these numbers are moving targets. They shift by a minute or two every single day because the Earth is a wobbly, tilted ball hurtling through space.
People think sunset is a static event. It’s not. It’s a process.
The Science Behind Your Local Sunset
Calculating the exact moment the sun "sets" is actually pretty technical. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) define it as the moment the trailing edge of the sun's disk disappears below the horizon. But because of atmospheric refraction—basically the air acting like a giant lens—the sun has actually already dropped below the horizon by the time you see it "touch" the line. You're looking at a ghost. A light-mirage.
Think about that. Your eyes are lying to you for about two or three minutes every evening.
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The time varies wildly based on your latitude and where you sit within your specific time zone. If you’re on the eastern edge of a time zone, like Boston, it gets dark depressingly early compared to someone in Detroit, even though they’re on the same clock. This is why "what time did the sunset today" isn't a single answer for everyone. It’s deeply personal to your GPS coordinates.
Why January Sunsets Feel Different
We are currently just a few weeks past the winter solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are technically getting longer, but it doesn't always feel like it. This is because of the "equation of time." The Earth’s orbit isn't a perfect circle; it’s an ellipse. Because of this, the earliest sunset actually happens in early December, even though the shortest day isn't until the 21st.
By mid-January, we’re gaining roughly one to two minutes of daylight per day. It’s a slow crawl back to summer. You might notice the light lingering just a bit longer during your evening commute than it did two weeks ago. That’s not your imagination. That’s orbital mechanics at work.
Understanding the Three Stages of Twilight
Most people think once the sun is gone, it's night. Wrong. You have three distinct phases of "almost light" that dictate what you can actually do outside without a flashlight.
Civil Twilight is what most of us care about. It starts the moment the sun disappears and lasts until the center of the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. Usually, this is about 20 to 30 minutes. In clear weather, you can still see well enough to play catch or find your keys.
Then comes Nautical Twilight. This is when the sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below. Sailors used this time to navigate via the stars while still being able to see the horizon line. If you're walking your dog now, you’re probably tripping over uneven pavement.
Finally, there’s Astronomical Twilight. The sun is 12 to 18 degrees below. To the casual observer, it looks like total night, but astronomers can still see the faint glow of the sun interfering with their deep-space photography. Once this ends, you have "True Night."
How the Sunset Affects Your Biology
Your brain has a tiny region called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It’s your internal master clock. When the "what time did the sunset today" question translates into actual darkness hitting your retinas, your brain starts pumping out melatonin.
Blue light—the kind we get from the sun—keeps us alert. As the sun sets and the light shifts to the red end of the spectrum, your body prepares for maintenance mode.
The problem? Our screens.
If you’re checking the sunset time on a bright OLED screen, you’re essentially telling your brain it’s still noon. This creates a "circadian mismatch." Dr. Satchin Panda at the Salk Institute has done extensive research on this, showing that ignoring the natural sunset-to-sunrise cycle messes with everything from your insulin sensitivity to your mood. Basically, when the sun goes down, you should probably start dimming the lights in your house.
The Psychological "Golden Hour"
Photographers obsess over the hour before sunset, but psychologists have noted that sunsets have a profound effect on mental health too. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology suggests that "awe-inspiring" natural events, like a vivid sunset, can increase feelings of well-being and even make people act more generously.
It forces a perspective shift. You stop worrying about your inbox and start looking at the sky.
Factors That Change the Color of the Sunset
Why was the sunset tonight fiery red while yesterday’s was a dull, dusty pink? It comes down to Rayleigh scattering.
As the sun gets lower, the light has to travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere. Shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) get scattered away by gas molecules, leaving the longer wavelengths (red and orange) to reach your eyes.
But there’s a catch.
Pollution, smoke from wildfires, and volcanic ash can actually intensify these colors. While a "blood red" sky looks cool on TikTok, it’s often a sign of high particulate matter in the air. Clean air usually produces more yellow and orange hues. If you saw a particularly purple sky today, that’s often due to a combination of scattering and the presence of small water droplets or aerosols reflecting the light in a specific way.
Practical Steps for Tomorrow
Knowing the sunset time isn't just trivia; it’s a tool for better living. Since the sun is setting roughly 1-2 minutes later each day this week, you can start reclaiming your evening.
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- Check the Golden Hour: For the best photos or a calming walk, head outside roughly 45 minutes before the official sunset time.
- Adjust Your Lighting: Use a "warmth" filter on your phone (like Night Shift) starting exactly at sunset to help your natural melatonin production.
- Plan Your Vitamin D: Remember that you can't get Vitamin D from the sun once it’s low in the sky. If you’re waiting until sunset to get "sun," you’ve already missed the biological window for nutrient absorption.
- Watch the Horizon: If you have a clear view of the ocean or a flat plain, look for the "green flash"—a rare optical phenomenon that happens for a split second right as the last sliver of the sun vanishes. It requires very specific atmospheric conditions, but January’s cold, crisp air often makes it easier to spot.
The sun will set tomorrow at approximately 4:55 PM (NYC) or 5:05 PM (LA). Use those extra seconds of light wisely.