Sunset & Sunrise Today in Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Rancho Santa Margarita: sunrise 6:55 AM, sunset 6:16 PM.
In Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the sun rises at 6:54 AM and sets at 6:17 PM today, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, for a total of 11h 22m of daylight. Local solar noon in Rancho Santa Margarita falls at 12:36 PM.
Because Rancho Santa Margarita is at 33.64° (the lower mid-latitudes), daylight varies moderately between summer and winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 1 seconds. This is autumn in Rancho Santa Margarita, so the daily sun times are still on the move.
Golden hour in Rancho Santa Margarita this evening is roughly 5:44 PM–6:33 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:33 PM to 6:42 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita is at 6:16 PM and sunrise at 6:55 AM — about 2m 0s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita drift across the whole year.
It's autumn in Rancho Santa Margarita, when sunset creeps earlier each week. Over the course of the year, sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita ranges from as early as 4:41 PM (around November 29) to as late as 8:04 PM (around June 23). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 22m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 54m.
Moon in Rancho Santa Margarita today
Sunset today: Rancho Santa Margarita vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Santa Margarita | 6:54 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| Mission Viejo | 6:55 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| Lake Forest | 6:55 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| Aliso Viejo | 6:55 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| Laguna Niguel | 6:55 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
Rancho Santa Margarita sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 22m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 54m
- Latest sunset 8:04 PM (June 23)
- Earliest sunset 4:41 PM (November 29)
- Earliest sunrise 5:39 AM (June 8)
- Latest sunrise 7:09 AM (March 8)
Solstices & equinoxes in Rancho Santa Margarita (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:01 PM | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:40 AM | 8:03 PM | 14h 22m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 6:46 PM | 12h 07m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 4:45 PM | 9h 54m |
Rancho Santa Margarita sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 6:54 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m | — |
| Thu Oct 15 | 6:55 AM | 6:16 PM | 11h 20m | −2m 00s |
| Fri Oct 16 | 6:56 AM | 6:14 PM | 11h 18m | −2m 00s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 6:57 AM | 6:13 PM | 11h 16m | −2m 00s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 6:57 AM | 6:12 PM | 11h 14m | −1m 59s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 6:58 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 12m | −1m 59s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 6:59 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 10m | −1m 58s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:00 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 08m | −1m 57s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:01 AM | 6:07 PM | 11h 06m | −1m 57s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:02 AM | 6:06 PM | 11h 04m | −1m 56s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:02 AM | 6:05 PM | 11h 02m | −1m 56s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:03 AM | 6:04 PM | 11h 01m | −1m 55s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:04 AM | 6:03 PM | 10h 59m | −1m 54s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:05 AM | 6:02 PM | 10h 57m | −1m 54s |
Twilight times in Rancho Santa Margarita today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:31 AM | 7:40 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:00 AM | 7:11 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:29 AM | 6:42 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:38 AM | 7:27 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:44 PM | 6:33 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:55 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 57m |
| February | 6:46 AM | 5:21 PM | 10h 34m |
| March | 6:18 AM | 5:47 PM | 11h 28m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:10 PM | 12h 33m |
| May | 6:01 AM | 7:33 PM | 13h 31m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 7:55 PM | 14h 14m |
| July | 5:44 AM | 8:04 PM | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:02 AM | 7:50 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 7:15 PM | 12h 50m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 49m |
| November | 6:09 AM | 4:57 PM | 10h 47m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 4:41 PM | 10h 04m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Rancho Santa Margarita
What time is sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita today?
Sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita, California is at 6:17 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Rancho Santa Margarita today?
Sunrise in Rancho Santa Margarita is at 6:54 AM today, with 11h 22m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Rancho Santa Margarita tomorrow?
Sunrise in Rancho Santa Margarita tomorrow is at 6:55 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:16 PM.
What time is sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita tomorrow?
Sunset in Rancho Santa Margarita tomorrow is at 6:16 PM.
How long is the day in Rancho Santa Margarita today?
Rancho Santa Margarita gets 11h 22m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:54 AM and sunset at 6:17 PM.
When is golden hour in Rancho Santa Margarita?
The evening golden hour in Rancho Santa Margarita is about 5:44 PM to 6:33 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Rancho Santa Margarita?
The evening blue hour in Rancho Santa Margarita runs from about 6:33 PM to 6:42 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Rancho Santa Margarita?
After sunset at 6:17 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Rancho Santa Margarita at around 6:42 PM today.
When is solar noon in Rancho Santa Margarita?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Rancho Santa Margarita — is at 12:36 PM today.
Nearest cities to Rancho Santa Margarita
- Mission ViejoCA
- Lake ForestCA
- Aliso ViejoCA
- Laguna NiguelCA
- San Juan CapistranoCA
- IrvineCA
- Dana PointCA
- TustinCA
More cities in California
Learn more about the sunset
- 🌇 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.