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Blue Hour Calculator

The deep-blue twilight before sunrise and after sunset — exact times for today.

Finding your city…

Blue hour

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All sun times for this day

What is the blue hour?

The blue hour happens during civil twilight, when the Sun is between 4° and 6° below the horizon. No direct sunlight reaches the ground; the sky glows with scattered, mostly blue light while city lights are already on, giving an even balance between sky and artificial light. Despite the name it usually lasts only 15–30 minutes at mid-latitudes.

Blue hour photo tips

  • Use a tripod — exposures of several seconds are normal.
  • Cityscapes work best when building and street lights are on but the sky still has color.
  • In the evening, look away from the sunset direction for the deepest blue.
  • Shoot raw and keep white balance around 4000–5500 K to keep the blue.

Frequently asked questions

Is blue hour before or after golden hour?

In the evening the blue hour comes after sunset and the golden hour. In the morning it comes before sunrise and the golden hour.

Why is the sky blue after sunset?

With the Sun below the horizon, the light reaching you is scattered high in the atmosphere, and ozone absorbs some orange and red light. What remains is a rich blue.

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