Sunset & Sunrise Today in Santa Maria, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Santa Maria: sunrise 7:08 AM, sunset 6:26 PM.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the sun sets over Santa Maria at 6:27 PM, having risen at 7:07 AM. That works out to 11h 20m of daylight today. The sun reaches its high point above Santa Maria at 12:47 PM.
Sitting at 34.95° latitude puts Santa Maria in the lower mid-latitudes — daylight varies moderately between summer and winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 7 seconds. This is autumn in Santa Maria, so the daily sun times are still on the move.
If you're shooting at sunset, aim for Santa Maria's golden hour, about 5:54 PM to 6:43 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:43 PM to 6:53 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Santa Maria is at 6:26 PM and sunrise at 7:08 AM — about 2m 7s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Santa Maria drift across the whole year.
It's autumn in Santa Maria, when sunset creeps earlier each week. Over the course of the year, sunset in Santa Maria ranges from as early as 4:49 PM (around December 1) to as late as 8:19 PM (around June 23). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 30m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 47m.
Moon in Santa Maria today
Sunset today: Santa Maria vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | 7:07 AM | 6:27 PM | 11h 20m |
| Santa Maria | 7:07 AM | 6:27 PM | 11h 20m |
| Lompoc | 7:07 AM | 6:27 PM | 11h 20m |
| San Luis Obispo | 7:08 AM | 6:28 PM | 11h 19m |
| Santa Barbara | 7:03 AM | 6:25 PM | 11h 21m |
Santa Maria sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 30m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 47m
- Latest sunset 8:19 PM (June 23)
- Earliest sunset 4:49 PM (December 1)
- Earliest sunrise 5:47 AM (June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:22 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Santa Maria (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:05 AM | 7:13 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 30m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 6:58 PM | 12h 07m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:06 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 47m |
Santa Maria sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 7:07 AM | 6:27 PM | 11h 20m | — |
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:08 AM | 6:26 PM | 11h 18m | −2m 07s |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 11h 16m | −2m 06s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:09 AM | 6:23 PM | 11h 14m | −2m 05s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:10 AM | 6:22 PM | 11h 12m | −2m 06s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:11 AM | 6:21 PM | 11h 09m | −2m 04s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:12 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 07m | −2m 04s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:13 AM | 6:18 PM | 11h 05m | −2m 04s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:13 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 03m | −2m 03s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:14 AM | 6:16 PM | 11h 01m | −2m 02s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:15 AM | 6:15 PM | 10h 59m | −2m 02s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:16 AM | 6:14 PM | 10h 57m | −2m 01s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:17 AM | 6:13 PM | 10h 55m | −2m 00s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:18 AM | 6:12 PM | 10h 53m | −1m 59s |
Twilight times in Santa Maria today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:42 AM | 7:51 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:11 AM | 7:22 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:41 AM | 6:53 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:50 AM | 7:40 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:54 PM | 6:43 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Santa Maria by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:09 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 5:30 PM | 10h 30m |
| March | 6:31 AM | 5:57 PM | 11h 26m |
| April | 6:48 AM | 7:22 PM | 12h 34m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 7:47 PM | 13h 36m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 8:10 PM | 14h 20m |
| July | 5:51 AM | 8:19 PM | 14h 27m |
| August | 6:11 AM | 8:04 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:34 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 53m |
| October | 6:56 AM | 6:45 PM | 11h 48m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 5:07 PM | 10h 44m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 58m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Santa Maria
What time is sunset in Santa Maria today?
Sunset in Santa Maria, California is at 6:27 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Santa Maria today?
Sunrise in Santa Maria is at 7:07 AM today, with 11h 20m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Santa Maria tomorrow?
Sunrise in Santa Maria tomorrow is at 7:08 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:26 PM.
What time is sunset in Santa Maria tomorrow?
Sunset in Santa Maria tomorrow is at 6:26 PM.
How long is the day in Santa Maria today?
Santa Maria gets 11h 20m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:07 AM and sunset at 6:27 PM.
When is golden hour in Santa Maria?
The evening golden hour in Santa Maria is about 5:54 PM to 6:43 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Santa Maria?
The evening blue hour in Santa Maria runs from about 6:43 PM to 6:53 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Santa Maria?
After sunset at 6:27 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Santa Maria at around 6:53 PM today.
When is solar noon in Santa Maria?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Santa Maria — is at 12:47 PM today.
Nearest cities to Santa Maria
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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.