In December 2026, sunrise in Modesto moves from 7:01 AM on December 1 to 7:20 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:47 PM to 4:56 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 46m to 9h 36m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:01 AM → 7:20 AM
Sunset range
4:47 PM → 4:56 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 4:25 PM
New moon
Dec 8
best for stars
Day-by-day sun & moon times — December 2026
| Date | Sunrise | Morning golden hour | Evening golden hour | Sunset | Blue hour | Daylight | Moon | Moonrise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 | 7:01 AM | 6:43 AM–7:41 AM | 4:07 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 46m | 45% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:02 AM | 6:44 AM–7:42 AM | 4:07 PM–5:04 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 44m | 34% | 12:47 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:03 AM | 6:45 AM–7:43 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 43m | 24% | 1:53 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:04 AM | 6:46 AM–7:44 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 42m | 16% | 2:58 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:05 AM | 6:47 AM–7:45 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 41m | 9% | 4:03 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:06 AM | 6:48 AM–7:46 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 40m | 4% | 5:07 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:07 AM | 6:49 AM–7:47 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 40m | 1% | 6:10 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:07 AM | 6:50 AM–7:48 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 39m | 0% | 7:09 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:08 AM | 6:50 AM–7:49 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 38m | 1% | 8:03 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:09 AM | 6:51 AM–7:50 AM | 4:06 PM–5:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 37m | 3% | 8:50 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:10 AM | 6:52 AM–7:51 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 37m | 7% | 9:31 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:11 AM | 6:53 AM–7:51 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 36m | 13% | 10:05 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:11 AM | 6:53 AM–7:52 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 36m | 20% | 10:35 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:12 AM | 6:54 AM–7:53 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 35m | 28% | 11:00 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:13 AM | 6:55 AM–7:54 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 35m | 37% | 11:25 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:13 AM | 6:55 AM–7:54 AM | 4:07 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 34m | 47% | 11:49 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:14 AM | 6:56 AM–7:55 AM | 4:07 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 34m | 58% | 12:13 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:15 AM | 6:56 AM–7:56 AM | 4:07 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 34m | 68% | 12:40 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:15 AM | 6:57 AM–7:56 AM | 4:08 PM–5:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:07 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 34m | 78% | 1:09 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:16 AM | 6:58 AM–7:57 AM | 4:08 PM–5:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:07 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 33m | 86% | 1:45 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:16 AM | 6:58 AM–7:57 AM | 4:09 PM–5:08 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:08 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 33m | 93% | 2:28 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:17 AM | 6:59 AM–7:58 AM | 4:09 PM–5:08 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:08 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 33m | 98% | 3:21 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:17 AM | 6:59 AM–7:58 AM | 4:10 PM–5:09 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:09 PM–5:20 PM | 9h 33m | 100% | 4:25 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:18 AM | 6:59 AM–7:59 AM | 4:10 PM–5:09 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:09 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 34m | 99% | 5:37 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:18 AM | 7:00 AM–7:59 AM | 4:11 PM–5:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:10 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 34m | 96% | 6:52 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:18 AM | 7:00 AM–7:59 AM | 4:11 PM–5:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:10 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 34m | 90% | 8:08 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–8:00 AM | 4:12 PM–5:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:11 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 34m | 82% | 9:21 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–8:00 AM | 4:13 PM–5:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:12 PM–5:23 PM | 9h 35m | 72% | 10:31 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–8:00 AM | 4:13 PM–5:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:12 PM–5:24 PM | 9h 35m | 61% | 11:39 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–8:00 AM | 4:14 PM–5:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:13 PM–5:24 PM | 9h 36m | 51% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:20 AM | 7:02 AM–8:00 AM | 4:15 PM–5:14 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:14 PM–5:25 PM | 9h 36m | 40% | 12:45 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Los Angeles) and computed for Modesto city center.
Photo planning tips for December
- The December solstice brings the earliest sunsets and the most southerly sunrise and sunset.
- Long nights are ideal for star trails and winter constellations.
- The Geminids peak around December 13–14 — the year's richest shower.
Other months
JanuaryModestoFebruaryModestoMarchModestoAprilModestoMayModestoJuneModestoJulyModestoAugustModestoSeptemberModestoOctoberModestoNovemberModestoDecemberModesto
FAQ
What time is sunset in Modesto in December?
Between 4:47 PM (on December 1) and 4:56 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Modesto in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 4:06 PM–5:05 PM and the morning golden hour is 6:55 AM–7:54 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 4:25 PM in Modesto. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.