When does it get dark in New York tonight?

Tonight's darkness times for New York depend on the date and New York's latitude (40.7°). Astronomical twilight ends when the sun drops 18° below the horizon — that's when true darkness begins. The Twilight Calculator computes civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight start and end times for any date. Enter New York as your location above and press Calculate to see the exact times for tonight.

How long does astronomical twilight last in New York?

Astronomical twilight duration at New York varies by season. At 40.7° latitude (mid-latitude), it typically lasts 90–120 minutes during equinox periods. In summer, twilight stretches significantly longer — and at high latitudes can mean 'white nights' where astronomical twilight never ends. In winter, the steeper sun angle produces shorter twilight. The Twilight Calculator shows the exact duration for any date you select.

What is the best time for stargazing in New York?

The best stargazing in New York occurs when two conditions align: astronomical twilight has ended (sun > 18° below horizon) and the moon is near new moon or below the horizon. At 40.7° latitude, the longest dark-sky windows occur during the October–March months. Use the Twilight Calculator to find tonight's dark window, then cross-reference with MoonSync to check the moon phase — this gives you the 'astrophotographer's golden hours' for New York.

Does New York experience white nights?

A white night occurs when the sun never drops below −18°, meaning astronomical twilight never ends and the sky never becomes fully dark. At New York's latitude of 40.7°, 40.7128° is below the white night threshold — the sun always drops below −18° and true darkness occurs every night. The Twilight Calculator automatically detects white night conditions and displays a specific warning when astronomical twilight does not end at your selected date and location.

Twilight data for New York

Twilight Times New York — Twilight Calculator · FastTool

How Twilight Works at New York's Latitude

Twilight Duration at New York

At New York's latitude of 40.7°, twilight duration varies dramatically by season. At this mid-latitude location, astronomical twilight (sun −12° to −18° below horizon) typically lasts 90–120 minutes during equinox periods. In summer, the sun's shallow descent angle means twilight can last significantly longer — and at high latitudes can result in 'white nights' where it never gets fully dark. This seasonal variation is what makes New York's dark-sky window so different month to month.

NOAA Twilight Reference

When Does It Get Truly Dark in New York?

At New York, true astronomical darkness begins when the sun drops more than 18° below the horizon — the end of astronomical twilight. At 40.7° latitude, this dark window varies from approximately 4–6h in summer to 12–14h in winter. During the October–March months, New York enjoys the longest dark-sky windows of the year — ideal for deep-sky astrophotography and stargazing. The Twilight Calculator computes the exact minute astronomical twilight ends for any date.

ESO — Twilight Reference

Civil, Nautical & Astronomical Twilight Explained

Three twilight phases occur each evening and morning at New York, defined by how far the sun is below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°): bright enough for outdoor activities without artificial light. Nautical twilight (6°–12°): the horizon remains visible for marine navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°): sky background darkens enough for deep-sky observation. At New York's latitude, these phases progress at different speeds depending on the season — faster near the equinoxes and slower near the solstices.

IAU — Twilight Definitions

Jean Meeus Algorithm & Accuracy

The Twilight Calculator for New York uses the simplified solar position algorithm from Jean Meeus's 'Astronomical Algorithms' (Chapter 25), refined with bisection iteration (15 steps) to locate each twilight threshold to sub-minute accuracy. The algorithm accounts for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent sun by approximately 34 arcminutes at the horizon. Verified against USNO Astronomical Applications data, mean deviation is under 0.5 seconds for New York's coordinates.

US Naval Observatory — Astronomical Applications

02:37

Fully Dark

07:18

Astro Dawn

4h 41.47888333333333m

Dark Window

01:04

Civil Dusk

Frequently Asked Questions About Twilight in New York

When does it get dark in New York tonight?: Tonight's darkness times for New York depend on the date and New York's latitude (40.7°). Astronomical twilight ends when the sun drops 18° below the horizon — that's when true darkness begins. The Twilight Calculator computes civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight start and end times for any date. Enter New York as your location above and press Calculate to see the exact times for tonight.
How long does astronomical twilight last in New York?: Astronomical twilight duration at New York varies by season. At 40.7° latitude (mid-latitude), it typically lasts 90–120 minutes during equinox periods. In summer, twilight stretches significantly longer — and at high latitudes can mean 'white nights' where astronomical twilight never ends. In winter, the steeper sun angle produces shorter twilight. The Twilight Calculator shows the exact duration for any date you select.
What is the best time for stargazing in New York?: The best stargazing in New York occurs when two conditions align: astronomical twilight has ended (sun > 18° below horizon) and the moon is near new moon or below the horizon. At 40.7° latitude, the longest dark-sky windows occur during the October–March months. Use the Twilight Calculator to find tonight's dark window, then cross-reference with MoonSync to check the moon phase — this gives you the 'astrophotographer's golden hours' for New York.
Does New York experience white nights?: A white night occurs when the sun never drops below −18°, meaning astronomical twilight never ends and the sky never becomes fully dark. At New York's latitude of 40.7°, 40.7128° is below the white night threshold — the sun always drops below −18° and true darkness occurs every night. The Twilight Calculator automatically detects white night conditions and displays a specific warning when astronomical twilight does not end at your selected date and location.

30-Day Observation Planner

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Twilight End	Moon Illum.	Dark Window
Jun 22Today	09:26	00:31	02:37	50%	4h 41m
Jun 23	09:26	00:32	02:37	61%	4h 42m
Jun 24	09:26	00:32	02:37	70%	4h 42m
Jun 25	09:26	00:32	02:37	79%	4h 42m
Jun 26	09:27	00:32	02:37	86%	4h 43m
Jun 27	09:27	00:32	02:37	92%	4h 43m
Jun 28	09:27	00:32	02:37	96%	4h 44m
Jun 29	09:28	00:32	02:37	99%	4h 45m
Jun 30	09:28	00:32	02:36	100%	4h 46m
Jul 1	09:29	00:32	02:36	99%	4h 47m
Jul 2	09:29	00:32	02:36	96%	4h 48m
Jul 3	09:30	00:32	02:35	92%	4h 49m
Jul 4	09:30	00:32	02:35	86%	4h 51m
Jul 5	09:31	00:31	02:34	77%	4h 52m
Jul 6	09:31	00:31	02:33	68%	4h 54m
Jul 7	09:32	00:31	02:33	57%	4h 55m
Jul 8	09:33	00:31	02:32	46%	4h 57m
Jul 9	09:33	00:30	02:31	35%	4h 59m
Jul 10	09:34	00:30	02:31	25%	5h 1m
Jul 11	09:35	00:29	02:30	15%	5h 3m
Jul 12	09:35	00:29	02:29	8%	5h 5m
Jul 13	09:36	00:29	02:28	3%	5h 7m
Jul 14	09:37	00:28	02:27	0%	5h 9m
Jul 15	09:37	00:27	02:26	1%	5h 12m
Jul 16	09:38	00:27	02:25	4%	5h 14m
Jul 17	09:39	00:26	02:24	9%	5h 17m
Jul 18	09:40	00:26	02:22	17%	5h 19m
Jul 19	09:41	00:25	02:21	25%	5h 22m
Jul 20	09:41	00:24	02:20	35%	5h 24m
Jul 21	09:42	00:24	02:19	45%	5h 27m