Sunset & Sunrise Today in Palo Alto, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Palo Alto: sunrise 6:00 AM, sunset 8:28 PM.
Palo Alto, California sees the sun come up at 6:00 AM and go down at 8:28 PM on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 — 14h 28m of daylight from sunrise to sunset. The sun reaches its high point above Palo Alto at 1:14 PM.
Palo Alto lies at latitude 37.44°, in the mid-latitudes, where daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 1 minute shorter and 12 seconds. Through summer, the sunset time in Palo Alto keeps shifting, which is why it pays to check the exact figure day by day.
For photographers, the evening golden hour in Palo Alto runs from about 7:51 PM to 8:47 PM — that warm, low, flattering light just before sunset. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:47 PM to 8:59 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Palo Alto is at 8:28 PM and sunrise at 6:00 AM — about 1m 14s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Palo Alto drift across the whole year.
This is high summer in Palo Alto, the season of long evenings. Over the course of the year, sunset in Palo Alto ranges from as early as 4:50 PM (around November 29) to as late as 8:33 PM (around June 23). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 44m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 34m.
Moon in Palo Alto today
Sunset today: Palo Alto vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | 6:00 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m |
| Mountain View | 5:59 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m |
| Mountain View | 5:59 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m |
| Redwood City | 6:00 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 29m |
| Sunnyvale | 5:59 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m |
Palo Alto sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 44m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 34m
- Latest sunset 8:33 PM (around June 23)
- Earliest sunset 4:50 PM (around November 29)
- Earliest sunrise 5:47 AM (around June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:32 AM (around October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Palo Alto (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:20 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 8:32 PM | 14h 44m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:04 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 34m |
Palo Alto sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 6:00 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 6:00 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 27m | −1m 14s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 6:01 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 26m | −1m 17s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 6:02 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 25m | −1m 19s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 6:02 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 23m | −1m 22s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 6:03 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 22m | −1m 24s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 6:04 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 20m | −1m 26s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 6:05 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 19m | −1m 29s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 6:05 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 17m | −1m 30s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 6:06 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 16m | −1m 33s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 6:07 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 14m | −1m 35s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 6:08 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 13m | −1m 37s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 6:09 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 11m | −1m 38s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 6:09 AM | 8:19 PM | 14h 09m | −1m 41s |
Twilight times in Palo Alto today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:10 AM | 10:18 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 4:51 AM | 9:36 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:29 AM | 8:59 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:40 AM | 6:37 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:51 PM | 8:47 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in Palo Alto.
Sunrise & sunset in Palo Alto by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 7:11 AM | 5:32 PM | 10h 20m |
| March | 6:39 AM | 6:02 PM | 11h 22m |
| April | 6:53 AM | 7:31 PM | 12h 37m |
| May | 6:13 AM | 7:58 PM | 13h 44m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 34m |
| July | 5:51 AM | 8:33 PM | 14h 41m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 8:16 PM | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:36 PM | 12h 57m |
| October | 7:04 AM | 6:51 PM | 11h 46m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 5:09 PM | 10h 36m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 45m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time in Palo Alto.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Palo Alto
What time is sunset in Palo Alto today?
Sunset in Palo Alto, California is at 8:28 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Palo Alto today?
Sunrise in Palo Alto is at 6:00 AM today, with 14h 28m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Palo Alto tomorrow?
Sunrise in Palo Alto tomorrow is at 6:00 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:28 PM.
What time is sunset in Palo Alto tomorrow?
Sunset in Palo Alto tomorrow is at 8:28 PM.
How long is the day in Palo Alto today?
Palo Alto gets 14h 28m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:00 AM and sunset at 8:28 PM.
When is golden hour in Palo Alto?
The evening golden hour in Palo Alto is about 7:51 PM to 8:47 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Palo Alto?
The evening blue hour in Palo Alto runs from about 8:47 PM to 8:59 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Palo Alto?
After sunset at 8:28 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Palo Alto at around 8:59 PM today.
When is solar noon in Palo Alto?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Palo Alto — is at 1:14 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near Palo Alto
- Mountain ViewCA
- Mountain ViewCA
- Redwood CityCA
- SunnyvaleCA
- FremontCA
- Santa ClaraCA
- Union CityCA
- MilpitasCA
Sunrise & sunset times in more California cities
Sunset card for Palo Alto
Learn more about sunset, sunrise & twilight
- 🌇 What is golden hour?Golden hour is the warm, soft light just after sunrise and before sunset. Learn what it is, when it happens, how long it lasts, and how to use it.
- 🌆 What is blue hour?Discover what blue hour is, when it happens, how it differs from golden hour, and expert tips for photographing the soft blue twilight. Check exact blue.
- 🌌 Twilight explained: civil, nautical & astronomicalLearn the three phases of twilight—civil, nautical, astronomical—and what they mean for photographers, stargazers, and sunset lovers.
- 🌅 Why are sunsets red and orange?Discover the science behind red and orange sunsets, from Rayleigh scattering to air quality. Learn when and where to see the most vivid colors.
- 📸 The best time to photograph a sunsetDiscover the best time to photograph a sunset, from golden hour to blue hour. Learn exact timing, camera settings, and composition tips for stunning shots.
- ☀️ What is solar noon?Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point. Learn why it rarely matches 12:00 PM and how to find your exact solar noon.
- 📈 Why days get longer and shorter through the yearEarth's axial tilt drives seasonal day-length changes. Learn how solstices, equinoxes, and latitude affect daylight where you live.
- 🌞 The summer solstice explainedWhat causes the summer solstice, when it happens, and how it affects sunset times. Discover the science and beauty of the year's longest day.