Golden hour today

Golden hour today › Sacramento, CA

Golden hour in Sacramento today

Evening golden hour

 

The evening, minute by minute

The Sun sets toward
Face for the sunset itself. The direction shifts through the year, so the spot that worked in June may miss it in December.

Know the time. Now find the spot.

A time on its own doesn't tell you whether the Sun will drop behind a building or line up with the bridge. Asterfold draws the Sun's real path over the places you actually watch from, so you can aim your viewpoint, plan the evening, then record what the sky really did.

Plan your sunset in Asterfold, free

Sacramento light in 2026

42 minLongest evening golden hour, around December 21
35 minShortest, around September 17
8:34 PMLatest sunset, around June 22
4:44 PMEarliest sunset, around December 2

Month by month

DateSunriseAM gold endsPM gold startsSunsetBlue hour endsSets toward
Jan 157:22 AM8:02 AM4:28 PM5:09 PM5:38 PMWSW
Feb 156:56 AM7:33 AM5:07 PM5:44 PM6:11 PMWSW
Mar 157:16 AM7:51 AM6:38 PM7:13 PM7:39 PMW
Apr 156:29 AM7:05 AM7:07 PM7:42 PM8:10 PMWNW
May 155:54 AM6:31 AM7:33 PM8:11 PM8:41 PMWNW
Jun 155:41 AM6:20 AM7:52 PM8:32 PM9:03 PMWNW
Jul 155:54 AM6:32 AM7:50 PM8:29 PM9:00 PMWNW
Aug 156:20 AM6:56 AM7:23 PM7:59 PM8:28 PMWNW
Sep 156:47 AM7:22 AM6:38 PM7:13 PM7:40 PMW
Oct 157:15 AM7:51 AM5:51 PM6:27 PM6:54 PMW
Nov 156:48 AM7:27 AM4:13 PM4:52 PM5:21 PMWSW
Dec 157:16 AM7:58 AM4:04 PM4:45 PM5:15 PMWSW

Local time in Sacramento, including daylight saving time where it applies.

Nearby cities

Questions

When is golden hour in Sacramento today?

It changes every day. The calculator at the top of this page works it out live for today in Sacramento. As a guide, on June 15 the evening golden hour starts at 7:52 PM with sunset at 8:32 PM, and on December 15 it starts at 4:04 PM with sunset at 4:45 PM.

How long is golden hour in Sacramento?

In 2026 the evening golden hour in Sacramento runs from about 35 minutes (around September 17) to about 42 minutes (around December 21). It is longest near the solstices and shortest near the equinoxes, because the Sun sinks at a shallower angle then.

Which direction does the sun set in Sacramento?

Roughly west, but it moves. On June 15 it sets toward 301° (WNW) and on December 15 toward 240° (WSW). The compass on this page shows today’s exact direction.

What is the latest sunset in Sacramento?

In 2026 the latest sunset is about 8:34 PM around June 22, and the earliest is about 4:44 PM around December 2.

How is golden hour defined here?

This page uses the common photographers’ definition: golden hour while the Sun is between 6° above and 4° below the horizon, blue hour from 4° to 6° below. Times are calculated from the Sun’s position and are accurate to within a minute or two. Hills and buildings can block the light earlier.

Plan sunsets where you actually stand

Asterfold is a sunset planner with a sky dome that draws the Sun's real path for any place and date, coloured by golden hour, blue hour and twilight. Save your viewpoints, aim them, and keep a record of the skies you catch.

Asterfold screenshotAsterfold screenshotAsterfold screenshot
Get Asterfold on the App Store
Asterfold: Sunset PlannerFree on the App Store
Get it