Sunset & Sunrise Today in Decatur, Illinois
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Decatur: sunrise 7:07 AM, sunset 6:14 PM.
Today, Thursday, October 15, sunset in Decatur is at 6:15 PM and sunrise was at 7:06 AM, giving Decatur 11h 09m between first and last light. Local solar noon in Decatur falls at 12:41 PM.
Sitting at 39.84° latitude puts Decatur in the mid-latitudes — daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 31 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Decatur move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in Decatur this evening is roughly 5:40 PM–6:33 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:33 PM to 6:43 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Decatur is at 6:14 PM and sunrise at 7:07 AM — about 2m 31s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Decatur drift across the whole year.
Autumn has arrived in Decatur, and the days are drawing in. Over the course of the year, sunset in Decatur ranges from as early as 4:30 PM (around December 3) to as late as 8:28 PM (around June 27). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 59m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 20m.
Moon in Decatur today
Sunset today: Decatur vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | 7:06 AM | 6:15 PM | 11h 09m |
| Springfield | 7:09 AM | 6:18 PM | 11h 09m |
| Champaign | 7:03 AM | 6:12 PM | 11h 08m |
| Urbana | 7:03 AM | 6:12 PM | 11h 08m |
| Bloomington | 7:07 AM | 6:15 PM | 11h 08m |
Decatur sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 59m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 20m
- Latest sunset 8:28 PM (June 27)
- Earliest sunset 4:30 PM (December 3)
- Earliest sunrise 5:27 AM (June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:23 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Decatur (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:59 AM | 7:07 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:27 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 59m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 6:52 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:13 AM | 4:34 PM | 9h 20m |
Decatur sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:06 AM | 6:15 PM | 11h 09m | — |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:07 AM | 6:14 PM | 11h 06m | −2m 31s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:08 AM | 6:13 PM | 11h 04m | −2m 31s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:09 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 01m | −2m 30s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:10 AM | 6:10 PM | 10h 59m | −2m 29s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:11 AM | 6:08 PM | 10h 57m | −2m 29s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:12 AM | 6:07 PM | 10h 54m | −2m 28s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:13 AM | 6:05 PM | 10h 52m | −2m 28s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:14 AM | 6:04 PM | 10h 49m | −2m 26s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:16 AM | 6:03 PM | 10h 47m | −2m 26s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:17 AM | 6:01 PM | 10h 44m | −2m 25s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:18 AM | 6:00 PM | 10h 42m | −2m 25s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:19 AM | 5:59 PM | 10h 39m | −2m 23s |
| Wed Oct 28 | 7:20 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 37m | −2m 23s |
Twilight times in Decatur today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:36 AM | 7:46 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:07 AM | 7:14 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:38 AM | 6:43 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:49 AM | 7:42 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:40 PM | 6:33 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Decatur by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 4:41 PM | 9h 24m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 11m |
| March | 6:29 AM | 5:47 PM | 11h 18m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 39m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 7:50 PM | 13h 53m |
| June | 5:29 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:54 AM | 8:08 PM | 14h 13m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 7:26 PM | 13h 02m |
| October | 6:52 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 45m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 4:53 PM | 10h 28m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 4:31 PM | 9h 32m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Decatur
What time is sunset in Decatur today?
Sunset in Decatur, Illinois is at 6:15 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Decatur today?
Sunrise in Decatur is at 7:06 AM today, with 11h 09m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Decatur tomorrow?
Sunrise in Decatur tomorrow is at 7:07 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:14 PM.
What time is sunset in Decatur tomorrow?
Sunset in Decatur tomorrow is at 6:14 PM.
How long is the day in Decatur today?
Decatur gets 11h 09m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:06 AM and sunset at 6:15 PM.
When is golden hour in Decatur?
The evening golden hour in Decatur is about 5:40 PM to 6:33 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Decatur?
The evening blue hour in Decatur runs from about 6:33 PM to 6:43 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Decatur?
After sunset at 6:15 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Decatur at around 6:43 PM today.
When is solar noon in Decatur?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Decatur — is at 12:41 PM today.
Nearest cities to Decatur
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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.