Golden Hour Calculator
Sunrise, sunset, golden hour and blue hour times for any location and date — pick your spot on the map, no app needed.
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When Is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is when the sun sits between about 6° above and 4° below the horizon — low, warm, directional light with soft shadows, roughly the first hour after sunrise and the last before sunset. Blue hour follows (sun 4-6° below the horizon), when the sky turns deep blue and city lights balance the ambient light — prime time for cityscapes.
Times are computed astronomically from the sun's actual position for your map location and date — they shift with season and latitude (near the poles golden hour can last all day in summer). Arrive 15-20 minutes early; the best color often peaks in a 10-minute window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does golden hour actually last?
It is rarely a full hour: near the equator it can be 40 minutes, at mid-latitudes about an hour, and in high-latitude summers it can stretch for hours. This calculator gives the exact window for your spot.
What is the difference between golden hour and blue hour?
Golden hour has warm, directional sunlight (sun just above/at the horizon). Blue hour comes after sunset (or before sunrise) with the sun 4-6° below — cool ambient light, ideal for architecture and city lights.
Do the times account for my time zone and daylight saving?
Times use the UTC offset you enter — include DST in it (e.g. New York summer = −4). The astronomy itself is exact for the chosen coordinates.
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Golden Hour Calculator