Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Washington D.C. get today?

Accepted Answer

Washington D.C. currently gets approximately 12 hours and 55 minutes of daylight today. This varies throughout the year — days are longest around the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere, December in the Southern Hemisphere) and shortest around the winter solstice. At 38.9° latitude, Washington D.C. sees moderate variation, with summer days noticeably longer than winter days. Our calculations use the SunCalc astronomical library for accuracy within 1–2 minutes.

Question 2

What time does the sun rise in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in Washington D.C. change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 38.9° latitude. Use the table above to see today's exact sunrise time, as well as dawn (civil twilight) and other twilight phases. The earliest sunrise typically occurs around the summer solstice, while the latest sunrise happens near the winter solstice. The difference between earliest and latest sunrise can be over two hours. All sunrise calculations are based on NOAA solar position algorithms via the SunCalc library.

Question 3

What time does the sun set in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in Washington D.C. vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 38.9°. Check the table above for today's exact sunset time, including dusk and twilight phases. The latest sunset typically occurs a few days after the summer solstice, while the earliest sunset happens a few days before the winter solstice. At mid-latitudes, you can expect sunset to vary by 2–3 hours across the seasons.

Question 4

How does day length change throughout the year in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

Washington D.C. at 38.9° latitude experiences moderate seasonal day length variation. Summer days are noticeably longer than winter days, with daylight typically ranging from about 8 to 16 hours depending on the time of year. The rate of change is fastest around the equinoxes (March and September), when day length changes by several minutes each day. Around the solstices, the rate of change slows as day length approaches its maximum or minimum. This makes spring and autumn the seasons with the most noticeable daily changes in sunrise and sunset times.

Question 5

What is civil twilight in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in Washington D.C. is the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. It occurs just before sunrise (dawn) and just after sunset (dusk). At mid-latitudes, civil twilight typically lasts about 25–35 minutes. The exact duration for Washington D.C. is shown in the twilight data table above.

Question 6

What are the different twilight phases?

Accepted Answer

There are three twilight phases, each defined by the sun's angle below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°) is the brightest phase, with enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (6°–12°) is dimmer but still allows sailors to see the horizon for celestial navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°) is nearly dark, with only the faintest glow on the horizon, and most stars become visible. Below 18° is considered full astronomical night. The duration of each phase varies by latitude and season — our data table above shows all twilight phases for Washington D.C..

Question 7

When is the longest day in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in Washington D.C. occurs around the summer solstice. For Washington D.C. in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, Washington D.C. experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 38.9° latitude, the longest day is typically 14–16 hours of daylight. The shortest day (winter solstice) occurs approximately six months later.

Question 8

Does daylight saving time affect sunrise and sunset times in Washington D.C.?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when Washington D.C. transitions to daylight saving time, clock-based sunrise and sunset times shift by one hour. However, the actual amount of daylight doesn't change — DST simply moves an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. This means sunrise appears one hour "later" on the clock during DST, and sunset appears one hour "later" as well. The transition typically causes a noticeable jump in the sunrise/sunset table around the spring and fall changeover dates. Check our DST change calendar for exact transition dates in Washington D.C..

Astronomical Dawn	5:08:16 AM
Nautical Dawn	5:41:40 AM
Civil Dawn	6:13:55 AM
Sunrise	6:41:05 AM
Golden Hour End	7:16:30 AM
Solar Noon	1:08:43 PM
Golden Hour Start	7:00:56 PM
Sunset	7:36:20 PM
Civil Dusk	8:03:30 PM
Nautical Dusk	8:35:45 PM
Astronomical Dusk	9:09:09 PM
Day Length	12h 55m

Moonrise	11:05:24 PM
Moonset	3:06:45 PM
Moon Phase	🌗 Last Quarter
Illumination	46%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Sep 1, Tue	6:38 AM	7:40 PM	13h 3m	9:07 PM	11:23 AM	🌖
Sep 2, Wed	6:39 AM	7:39 PM	13h 0m	9:40 PM	12:39 PM	🌗
Sep 3, Thu	6:40 AM	7:37 PM	12h 58m	10:18 PM	1:54 PM	🌗
Sep 4, Fri	6:41 AM	7:36 PM	12h 55m	11:05 PM	3:06 PM	🌗
Sep 5, Sat	6:41 AM	7:34 PM	12h 53m	12:04 AM	4:10 PM	🌗
Sep 6, Sun	6:42 AM	7:33 PM	12h 50m	1:13 AM	5:04 PM	🌘
Sep 7, Mon	6:43 AM	7:31 PM	12h 48m	2:28 AM	5:46 PM	🌘
Sep 8, Tue	6:44 AM	7:30 PM	12h 45m	3:45 AM	6:20 PM	🌘
Sep 9, Wed	6:45 AM	7:28 PM	12h 43m	4:58 AM	6:50 PM	🌑
Sep 10, Thu	6:46 AM	7:26 PM	12h 40m	6:10 AM	7:15 PM	🌑
Sep 11, Fri	6:47 AM	7:25 PM	12h 38m	7:19 AM	7:39 PM	🌑
Sep 12, Sat	6:48 AM	7:23 PM	12h 36m	8:26 AM	—	🌑
Sep 13, Sun	6:49 AM	7:22 PM	12h 33m	9:31 AM	8:03 PM	🌒
Sep 14, Mon	6:49 AM	7:20 PM	12h 31m	10:36 AM	8:26 PM	🌒
Sep 15, Tue	6:50 AM	7:18 PM	12h 28m	11:40 AM	8:54 PM	🌒
Sep 16, Wed	6:51 AM	7:17 PM	12h 26m	12:42 PM	9:24 PM	🌒
Sep 17, Thu	6:52 AM	7:15 PM	12h 23m	1:41 PM	10:02 PM	🌓
Sep 18, Fri	6:53 AM	7:13 PM	12h 21m	2:35 PM	10:44 PM	🌓
Sep 19, Sat	6:54 AM	7:12 PM	12h 18m	3:22 PM	11:34 PM	🌓
Sep 20, Sun	6:55 AM	7:10 PM	12h 15m	4:02 PM	12:30 AM	🌓
Sep 21, Mon	6:56 AM	7:09 PM	12h 13m	4:37 PM	1:30 AM	🌔
Sep 22, Tue	6:56 AM	7:07 PM	12h 10m	5:05 PM	2:33 AM	🌔
Sep 23, Wed	6:57 AM	7:05 PM	12h 8m	5:32 PM	3:36 AM	🌔
Sep 24, Thu	6:58 AM	7:04 PM	12h 5m	5:55 PM	4:40 AM	🌔
Sep 25, Fri	6:59 AM	7:02 PM	12h 3m	6:19 PM	5:44 AM	🌕
Sep 26, Sat	7:00 AM	7:00 PM	12h 0m	6:43 PM	6:49 AM	🌕
Sep 27, Sun	7:01 AM	6:59 PM	11h 58m	7:08 PM	7:57 AM	🌕
Sep 28, Mon	7:02 AM	6:57 PM	11h 55m	7:38 PM	9:06 AM	🌖
Sep 29, Tue	7:03 AM	6:56 PM	11h 53m	—	10:19 AM	🌖
Sep 30, Wed	7:04 AM	6:54 PM	11h 50m	8:13 PM	11:35 AM	🌖

Sunrise & Sunset in Washington D.C., United States

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Monthly Summary — September 2026

Twilight Phases in Washington D.C.

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