In December 2026, sunrise in Des Moines moves from 7:23 AM on December 1 to 7:42 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:46 PM to 4:54 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 24m to 9h 12m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:23 AM → 7:42 AM
Sunset range
4:46 PM → 4:54 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 4:14 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 | 7:23 AM | 7:04 AM–8:06 AM | 4:03 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 24m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:24 AM | 7:05 AM–8:07 AM | 4:03 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 22m | 35% | 12:51 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:25 AM | 7:06 AM–8:08 AM | 4:02 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 21m | 25% | 2:00 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:26 AM | 7:06 AM–8:09 AM | 4:02 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 20m | 16% | 3:09 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:27 AM | 7:07 AM–8:10 AM | 4:02 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 19m | 10% | 4:18 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:28 AM | 7:08 AM–8:12 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 18m | 5% | 5:25 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:29 AM | 7:09 AM–8:13 AM | 4:01 PM–5:04 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 17m | 2% | 6:30 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:29 AM | 7:10 AM–8:14 AM | 4:01 PM–5:04 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 16m | 0% | 7:31 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:30 AM | 7:11 AM–8:15 AM | 4:01 PM–5:04 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 15m | 1% | 8:26 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:31 AM | 7:12 AM–8:15 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 14m | 3% | 9:13 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:32 AM | 7:13 AM–8:16 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 13m | 7% | 9:52 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:33 AM | 7:13 AM–8:17 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 13m | 12% | 10:25 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:34 AM | 7:14 AM–8:18 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 12m | 19% | 10:52 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:34 AM | 7:15 AM–8:19 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 11m | 27% | 11:15 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:35 AM | 7:16 AM–8:20 AM | 4:01 PM–5:05 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 11m | 37% | 11:37 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:36 AM | 7:16 AM–8:20 AM | 4:02 PM–5:06 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 10m | 47% | 11:57 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:36 AM | 7:17 AM–8:21 AM | 4:02 PM–5:06 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 10m | 57% | 12:19 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:37 AM | 7:17 AM–8:22 AM | 4:02 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 10m | 67% | 12:42 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:38 AM | 7:18 AM–8:22 AM | 4:02 PM–5:07 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:07 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 10m | 77% | 1:08 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:38 AM | 7:19 AM–8:23 AM | 4:03 PM–5:07 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:07 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 09m | 86% | 1:41 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:39 AM | 7:19 AM–8:23 AM | 4:03 PM–5:07 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:07 PM–5:20 PM | 9h 09m | 93% | 2:21 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:39 AM | 7:20 AM–8:24 AM | 4:04 PM–5:08 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:08 PM–5:20 PM | 9h 09m | 98% | 3:11 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:40 AM | 7:20 AM–8:24 AM | 4:04 PM–5:08 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:08 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 09m | 100% | 4:14 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:40 AM | 7:20 AM–8:25 AM | 4:05 PM–5:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:09 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 10m | 99% | 5:27 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:40 AM | 7:21 AM–8:25 AM | 4:05 PM–5:10 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:10 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 10m | 96% | 6:45 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:41 AM | 7:21 AM–8:25 AM | 4:06 PM–5:10 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:10 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 10m | 90% | 8:03 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:41 AM | 7:22 AM–8:26 AM | 4:07 PM–5:11 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:11 PM–5:23 PM | 9h 10m | 82% | 9:20 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:41 AM | 7:22 AM–8:26 AM | 4:08 PM–5:12 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:12 PM–5:24 PM | 9h 11m | 73% | 10:34 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:41 AM | 7:22 AM–8:26 AM | 4:08 PM–5:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:12 PM–5:24 PM | 9h 11m | 62% | 11:46 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 AM–8:26 AM | 4:09 PM–5:13 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:13 PM–5:25 PM | 9h 12m | 51% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 AM–8:26 AM | 4:10 PM–5:14 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:14 PM–5:26 PM | 9h 12m | 41% | 12:55 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Chicago) and computed for Des Moines 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
JanuaryDes MoinesFebruaryDes MoinesMarchDes MoinesAprilDes MoinesMayDes MoinesJuneDes MoinesJulyDes MoinesAugustDes MoinesSeptemberDes MoinesOctoberDes MoinesNovemberDes MoinesDecemberDes Moines
FAQ
What time is sunset in Des Moines in December?
Between 4:46 PM (on December 1) and 4:54 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Des Moines in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 4:01 PM–5:05 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:16 AM–8:20 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 4:14 PM in Des Moines. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.