Golden hour today › Santa Monica, CA
Golden hour in Santa Monica 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, freeSanta Monica light in 2026
Month by month
| Date | Sunrise | AM gold ends | PM gold starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Sets toward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 6:59 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:35 PM | WSW |
| Feb 15 | 6:38 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:03 PM | WSW |
| Mar 15 | 7:04 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:26 PM | W |
| Apr 15 | 6:22 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:51 PM | WNW |
| May 15 | 5:52 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:16 PM | WNW |
| Jun 15 | 5:42 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:36 PM | WNW |
| Jul 15 | 5:53 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | WNW |
| Aug 15 | 6:15 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:06 PM | WNW |
| Sep 15 | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:25 PM | W |
| Oct 15 | 6:59 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:44 PM | W |
| Nov 15 | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:16 PM | WSW |
| Dec 15 | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:14 PM | WSW |
Local time in Santa Monica, including daylight saving time where it applies.
Nearby cities
Questions
When is golden hour in Santa Monica today?
It changes every day. The calculator at the top of this page works it out live for today in Santa Monica. As a guide, on June 15 the evening golden hour starts at 7:30 PM with sunset at 8:06 PM, and on December 15 it starts at 4:07 PM with sunset at 4:46 PM.
How long is golden hour in Santa Monica?
In 2026 the evening golden hour in Santa Monica runs from about 33 minutes (around September 18) to about 38 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 Santa Monica?
Roughly west, but it moves. On June 15 it sets toward 299° (WNW) and on December 15 toward 242° (WSW). The compass on this page shows today’s exact direction.
What is the latest sunset in Santa Monica?
In 2026 the latest sunset is about 8:09 PM around June 24, and the earliest is about 4:44 PM around November 29.
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.
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