Sunset Today

Sunset is the moment when the upper edge of the sun disappears below the horizon in the west. Like sunrise, the time of sunset changes every day — shifting by as much as five or more hours between winter and summer at mid-latitudes. As the sun sets, it doesn't simply go dark: a sequence of twilight phases follows, each with its own quality of light.

Use the tool on the homepage to see the exact sunset time for your location today.

Sunset times through the year — London (51°N)

* Clocks spring forward one hour at end of March. ** Clocks fall back at end of October.

The three phases of twilight

After the sun dips below the horizon, light doesn't vanish immediately. There are three distinct twilight phases, each defined by how far below the horizon the sun sits:

Civil twilight — the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. This is the brightest phase: the horizon is still clearly visible, outdoor activities are possible without artificial light, and the sky glows with warm colour. Civil twilight ends roughly 20–30 minutes after sunset at mid-latitudes.

Nautical twilight — the sun is between 6° and 12° below the horizon. The horizon is no longer clearly visible; this is the phase historically used for navigation by stars while still being able to see the horizon. Brighter stars become visible. Duration: roughly another 30 minutes.

Astronomical twilight — the sun is between 12° and 18° below the horizon. Sky brightness has fallen enough for most astronomical observations; only the faintest objects remain obscured by residual glow. Once the sun drops below 18°, it is considered full night.

At high latitudes in midsummer, the sun may never drop below 18° — or even 12° — so true astronomical night never arrives. This is the phenomenon behind the famous white nights of St Petersburg and the Scandinavian summer.

Golden hour and blue hour

Photographers prize the period around sunset for its quality of light. The golden hour — roughly the last hour before sunset and the first after — produces warm, low-angle light that flatters landscapes and portraits. Immediately after the sun sets, the sky shifts to cooler blues during blue hour (civil twilight): softer, more diffuse, ideal for cityscapes where artificial lights begin to appear. Both windows are brief and vary by latitude and season, so knowing your exact sunset time matters.

The midnight sun — when sunset doesn't come

Above the Arctic Circle in summer, the sun circles the sky without setting. In Tromsø, Norway (70°N), the sun doesn't set for about two months around the summer solstice. Conversely, the same region experiences polar night in winter — the sun rises briefly or not at all. Near the equator, this phenomenon never occurs: sunset happens within minutes of 18:00 local time every day of the year.

Check the exact sunset time for your location on the homepage, and explore the full yearly cycle of sunrise and sunset with the interactive chart.