Sunset & Sunrise Today in Thornton, Colorado
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Thornton: sunrise 5:45 AM, sunset 8:26 PM.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the sun sets over Thornton at 8:26 PM, having risen at 5:44 AM. That works out to 14h 42m of daylight today. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Thornton, is at 1:05 PM.
Thornton lies at latitude 39.87°, 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 19 seconds. Through summer, the sunset time in Thornton keeps shifting, which is why it pays to check the exact figure day by day.
Golden hour in Thornton this evening is roughly 7:48 PM–8:46 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:46 PM to 8:59 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Thornton is at 8:26 PM and sunrise at 5:45 AM — about 1m 22s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Thornton drift across the whole year.
It's summer in Thornton right now, when daylight is at its most generous. Over the course of the year, sunset in Thornton ranges from as early as 4:34 PM (around December 3) to as late as 8:32 PM (around June 24). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 59m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 19m.
Moon in Thornton today
Sunset today: Thornton vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton | 5:44 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 42m |
| Westminster | 5:44 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 42m |
| Arvada | 5:45 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 42m |
| Denver | 5:44 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 41m |
| Aurora | 5:44 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 41m |
Thornton sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 59m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 19m
- Latest sunset 8:32 PM (around June 24)
- Earliest sunset 4:34 PM (around December 3)
- Earliest sunrise 5:31 AM (around June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:27 AM (around October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Thornton (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:11 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:31 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 59m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:47 AM | 6:56 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 4:38 PM | 9h 19m |
Thornton sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 5:44 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 42m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 5:45 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 41m | −1m 22s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 5:46 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 39m | −1m 25s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 5:46 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 38m | −1m 27s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 5:47 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 36m | −1m 30s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 5:48 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 35m | −1m 32s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 5:49 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 33m | −1m 35s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 5:50 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 32m | −1m 37s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 5:50 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 30m | −1m 40s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 5:51 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 28m | −1m 41s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 5:52 AM | 8:19 PM | 14h 26m | −1m 44s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 5:53 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 25m | −1m 47s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 5:54 AM | 8:17 PM | 14h 23m | −1m 48s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 5:55 AM | 8:16 PM | 14h 21m | −1m 50s |
Twilight times in Thornton today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 3:47 AM | 10:23 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 4:32 AM | 9:38 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:12 AM | 8:59 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:24 AM | 6:23 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:48 PM | 8:46 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in Thornton.
Sunrise & sunset in Thornton by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 4:45 PM | 9h 24m |
| February | 7:08 AM | 5:19 PM | 10h 11m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 5:51 PM | 11h 18m |
| April | 6:43 AM | 7:24 PM | 12h 40m |
| May | 6:00 AM | 7:54 PM | 13h 54m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:35 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 8:12 PM | 14h 13m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 7:30 PM | 13h 02m |
| October | 6:56 AM | 6:41 PM | 11h 45m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 4:57 PM | 10h 28m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 4:35 PM | 9h 32m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time in Thornton.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Thornton
What time is sunset in Thornton today?
Sunset in Thornton, Colorado is at 8:26 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Thornton today?
Sunrise in Thornton is at 5:44 AM today, with 14h 42m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Thornton tomorrow?
Sunrise in Thornton tomorrow is at 5:45 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:26 PM.
What time is sunset in Thornton tomorrow?
Sunset in Thornton tomorrow is at 8:26 PM.
How long is the day in Thornton today?
Thornton gets 14h 42m of daylight today, between sunrise at 5:44 AM and sunset at 8:26 PM.
When is golden hour in Thornton?
The evening golden hour in Thornton is about 7:48 PM to 8:46 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Thornton?
The evening blue hour in Thornton runs from about 8:46 PM to 8:59 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Thornton?
After sunset at 8:26 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Thornton at around 8:59 PM today.
When is solar noon in Thornton?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Thornton — is at 1:05 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near Thornton
Sunrise & sunset times in more Colorado cities
Sunset card for Thornton
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.