What Time is Dusk?

Dusk is the time of day when the Sun is below the horizon, but the sky is still lit by the Sun’s rays. It is the transition period between daylight and darkness, and it typically occurs in the late afternoon or early evening.

The exact time of dusk varies depending on a number of factors, including the location, time of year, and weather conditions. In general, dusk occurs about an hour after sunset, which is the time when the Sun is completely below the horizon, and the sky is completely dark.

When the Sun is barely below the horizon and the sky is lighted by a warm, diffuse light, the term “dusk” is commonly used. It is a time of transition and can be a beautiful and peaceful time of day as the natural light fades and the night begins to take over.

To find out the time of dusk for a specific location and date, you can consult a sunrise-sunset calculator or look up the sunset time and add about an hour to find the approximate time of dusk. Alternatively, you can observe the sky and note the time when the Sun is just below the horizon, and the sky is still lit by a warm, diffuse light.

Dusk, also known as civil dusk, occurs after sunset when the Sun’s centre is 6° below the horizon. After that, you’ll need a torch to avoid tripping over anything.

When the Sun is 12° and it is below the horizon, it is called nautical dusk. At that point, sailors can no longer detect the horizon line. Civil twilight is followed by nautical twilight, which is even darker and only allows us to see silhouettes of objects around us. This occurs when the Sun is 6° to 12° below the horizon. However, we have civic darkness between civil twilight and nautical twilight. The Sun is exactly 6° below the horizon at this time, and it barely lasts a second before civil twilight gives way to nautical twilight.