What Time Does It Get Dark?
As March approaches (with Spring almost here!), it’s typical to wonder: when does darkness fall? After months of limited sunlight, it feels like we’re finally emerging from the darkness, doesn’t it? In today’s blog, we’ll delve into why winter tends to be darker, how quickly darkness descends after sunset, and what to expect regarding the evening hours in the upcoming weeks.
Why is it darker in the winter?
As you might recall from science class, our planet orbits the sun as part of a larger system. The sun provides essential light and warmth to Earth. However, because our planet tilts on its axis, certain parts face toward the sun while others face away from it.
This tilt causes varying amounts of sunlight to reach different regions during different seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, when tilted toward the sun, we experience longer days and more sunlight during summer, and conversely, shorter days and less sunlight in winter. This reduced exposure to solar radiation contributes to colder temperatures.
The same principle applies in the Southern Hemisphere but in opposite seasons. Meanwhile, those situated along the equator—the line encircling the center of the Earth—experience days and nights of roughly equal length.
How long does it take to get dark after sunset?
When observing a sunset, you’ll likely notice that darkness doesn’t immediately engulf everything. This phenomenon is due to the spherical shape of our planet. Even after the sun dips below our horizon, its rays continue to illuminate the atmosphere above Earth’s surface. This interaction with different gas molecules causes light to scatter.
This period in the night sky is known as twilight, comprising three stages:
- Civil Twilight: It remains light enough to see.
- Nautical Twilight: Objects appear as silhouettes, and stars and constellations become visible.
- Astronomical Twilight: True darkness sets in, ideal for observing celestial objects.
Experts suggest that it takes roughly 70 to 100 minutes for these three stages to unfold, meaning that complete darkness arrives approximately an hour and a half after sunset.
Important Dates Coming Up in March
March holds significant dates that influence how we perceive the onset of darkness.
Daylight Savings
Daylight Savings aims to maximize natural light. Clocks “spring forward” in summer and “fall back” in winter. On March 14th, 2021, at 2 am, we “lose an hour” as we transition into longer days in the Northern Hemisphere. Post this date, darkness arrives progressively later.
March Equinox
The March Equinox falls on the 20th, marking the onset of Spring. It’s when the sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from South to North. Day and night are nearly equal in duration across the globe on this date.
So, what time does it get dark?
It seems this question becomes a bit challenging to address due to the upcoming changes in sunlight during March.
During the initial half of the month, expect sunset at approximately 5:45 pm, with complete darkness setting in around 7:15-7:30 pm.
Post daylight savings, anticipate sunset around 6:45 pm, followed by darkness arriving about an hour and a half later.
As the March Equinox heralds the start of Spring, sunset will progressively shift deeper into the evening. In fact, some Northern regions might not experience true darkness at all during the summer months.
