Sunset
Sunset Time in Palo Alto, CA
Today's sunset time for Palo Alto, California (37.39°, -122.15°), along with the compass direction the sun sets and the golden and blue hours that frame it. Use the date stepper to check any upcoming evening.
Sun, moon & horizon
13h 50m of daylight · computed locally with suncalc
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Sunset in Palo Alto on August 8, 2026
The sun sets in Palo Alto at 8:08 PM on August 8, 2026, going down toward 291° WNW after a 13h 50m day that began with sunrise at 6:19 AM. Solar noon — the sun's highest point — falls at 1:14 PM, and the evening golden hour leading into sunset runs 7:32 PM – 8:28 PM.
Where on the horizon the sun goes down is always moving. Right now the point where it sets is sliding back toward the south, because Palo Alto (37.4°N) is heading through summer with the days are drawing in. Over weeks that drift is easy to see against a fixed foreground like a ridgeline or building, which is why sunset compositions rarely repeat exactly.
Sunset isn't the end of the shot. Civil twilight keeps usable light in the sky until dusk at 8:37 PM — roughly 28 minutes after the sun disappears, and the deep-blue 8:28 PM – 8:37 PM blue hour sits in between. Use the planner to line up the exact sunset bearing for any evening.
More for Palo Alto
Gear for the shot
- Mirrorless camera A capable body for low-light landscapes.
- 24–70mm zoom lens A versatile range for golden-hour scenes.
- Camera backpack Carry gear to the shot comfortably.
- Landscape photography book Sharpen your eye for light and composition.
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Sunset in nearby cities
Palo Alto — frequently asked
- What time is sunset today in Palo Alto?
- Today's sunset time for Palo Alto is shown in the Sun section of the planner above, along with the exact compass bearing where the sun goes down.
- Where on the horizon does the sun set in Palo Alto?
- The sunset bearing shifts north in summer and south in winter. The compass shows today's exact sunset direction for Palo Alto.
- When is golden hour around sunset?
- Evening golden hour ends at sunset, so it begins roughly an hour before. The precise window is listed above.