Sunset & Sunrise Today in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Chapel Hill: sunrise 7:24 AM, sunset 6:38 PM.
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the sun rises at 7:23 AM and sets at 6:40 PM today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, for a total of 11h 16m of daylight. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Chapel Hill, is at 1:02 PM.
Because Chapel Hill is at 35.91° (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 11 seconds. Through autumn, the sunset time in Chapel Hill keeps shifting, which is why it pays to check the exact figure day by day.
If you're shooting at sunset, aim for Chapel Hill's golden hour, about 6:06 PM to 6:56 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:56 PM to 7:06 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Chapel Hill is at 6:38 PM and sunrise at 7:24 AM — about 2m 11s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Chapel Hill drift across the whole year.
Autumn has arrived in Chapel Hill, and the days are drawing in. Over the course of the year, sunset in Chapel Hill ranges from as early as 5:01 PM (around December 2) to as late as 8:36 PM (around June 22). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 35m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 42m.
Moon in Chapel Hill today
Sunset today: Chapel Hill vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | 7:23 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 16m |
| Chapel Hill | 7:23 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 16m |
| Durham | 7:22 AM | 6:39 PM | 11h 16m |
| Apex | 7:22 AM | 6:39 PM | 11h 17m |
| Cary | 7:22 AM | 6:39 PM | 11h 17m |
Chapel Hill sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 35m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 42m
- Latest sunset 8:36 PM (June 22)
- Earliest sunset 5:01 PM (December 2)
- Earliest sunrise 5:59 AM (June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:37 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Chapel Hill (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 6:00 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 35m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 7:04 AM | 7:12 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:23 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 42m |
Chapel Hill sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:23 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 16m | — |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:24 AM | 6:38 PM | 11h 14m | −2m 11s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:24 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 12m | −2m 10s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:25 AM | 6:36 PM | 11h 10m | −2m 10s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:26 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 08m | −2m 09s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:27 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 06m | −2m 09s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:28 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 03m | −2m 08s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:29 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 01m | −2m 08s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:30 AM | 6:30 PM | 10h 59m | −2m 07s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:31 AM | 6:28 PM | 10h 57m | −2m 06s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:32 AM | 6:27 PM | 10h 55m | −2m 06s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:33 AM | 6:26 PM | 10h 53m | −2m 04s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:34 AM | 6:25 PM | 10h 51m | −2m 04s |
| Wed Oct 28 | 7:35 AM | 6:24 PM | 10h 49m | −2m 03s |
Twilight times in Chapel Hill today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:57 AM | 8:05 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:27 AM | 7:35 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:56 AM | 7:06 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 7:06 AM | 7:56 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 6:06 PM | 6:56 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Chapel Hill by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 46m |
| February | 7:16 AM | 5:43 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 24m |
| April | 7:02 AM | 7:37 PM | 12h 35m |
| May | 6:23 AM | 8:03 PM | 13h 39m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 25m |
| July | 6:03 AM | 8:36 PM | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:24 AM | 8:20 PM | 13h 56m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:43 PM | 12h 54m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 6:59 PM | 11h 48m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 5:20 PM | 10h 41m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 5:02 PM | 9h 53m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Chapel Hill
What time is sunset in Chapel Hill today?
Sunset in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is at 6:40 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Chapel Hill today?
Sunrise in Chapel Hill is at 7:23 AM today, with 11h 16m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Chapel Hill tomorrow?
Sunrise in Chapel Hill tomorrow is at 7:24 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:38 PM.
What time is sunset in Chapel Hill tomorrow?
Sunset in Chapel Hill tomorrow is at 6:38 PM.
How long is the day in Chapel Hill today?
Chapel Hill gets 11h 16m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:23 AM and sunset at 6:40 PM.
When is golden hour in Chapel Hill?
The evening golden hour in Chapel Hill is about 6:06 PM to 6:56 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Chapel Hill?
The evening blue hour in Chapel Hill runs from about 6:56 PM to 7:06 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Chapel Hill?
After sunset at 6:40 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Chapel Hill at around 7:06 PM today.
When is solar noon in Chapel Hill?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Chapel Hill — is at 1:02 PM today.
Nearest cities to Chapel Hill
More cities in North Carolina
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.