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Des Moines Golden Hour Calendar: October 2026

Sunrise, sunset, golden hour and moon for every day of October

In October 2026, sunrise in Des Moines moves from 7:12 AM on October 1 to 7:46 AM on October 31, and sunset from 6:58 PM to 6:12 PM. Daylight changes from 11h 46m to 10h 26m. The fullest moon falls on October 25 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around October 10.

Sunrise range
7:12 AM → 7:46 AM
Sunset range
6:58 PM → 6:12 PM
Full moon
Oct 25
moonrise 5:40 PM
New moon
Oct 10
best for stars

Day-by-day sun & moon times — October 2026

DateSunriseMorning golden hourEvening golden hourSunsetBlue hourDaylightMoonMoonrise
Thu 17:12 AM6:55 AM–7:49 AM6:21 PM–7:15 PM6:58 PM7:15 PM–7:25 PM11h 46m71%9:48 PM
Fri 27:13 AM6:56 AM–7:50 AM6:19 PM–7:13 PM6:56 PM7:13 PM–7:24 PM11h 43m60%10:53 PM
Sat 37:14 AM6:57 AM–7:51 AM6:18 PM–7:11 PM6:54 PM7:11 PM–7:22 PM11h 40m48%—
Sun 47:15 AM6:58 AM–7:52 AM6:16 PM–7:10 PM6:53 PM7:10 PM–7:20 PM11h 38m36%12:08 AM
Mon 57:16 AM6:59 AM–7:53 AM6:14 PM–7:08 PM6:51 PM7:08 PM–7:19 PM11h 35m26%1:27 AM
Tue 67:17 AM7:00 AM–7:54 AM6:12 PM–7:06 PM6:49 PM7:06 PM–7:17 PM11h 32m16%2:45 AM
Wed 77:18 AM7:01 AM–7:55 AM6:11 PM–7:05 PM6:48 PM7:05 PM–7:15 PM11h 29m9%4:00 AM
Thu 87:19 AM7:02 AM–7:56 AM6:09 PM–7:03 PM6:46 PM7:03 PM–7:14 PM11h 27m4%5:12 AM
Fri 97:20 AM7:03 AM–7:58 AM6:07 PM–7:01 PM6:44 PM7:01 PM–7:12 PM11h 24m1%6:22 AM
Sat 107:21 AM7:04 AM–7:59 AM6:05 PM–7:00 PM6:43 PM7:00 PM–7:11 PM11h 21m0%7:30 AM
Sun 117:23 AM7:05 AM–8:00 AM6:04 PM–6:58 PM6:41 PM6:58 PM–7:09 PM11h 19m2%8:38 AM
Mon 127:24 AM7:07 AM–8:01 AM6:02 PM–6:57 PM6:39 PM6:57 PM–7:07 PM11h 16m5%9:45 AM
Tue 137:25 AM7:08 AM–8:02 AM6:00 PM–6:55 PM6:38 PM6:55 PM–7:06 PM11h 13m10%10:50 AM
Wed 147:26 AM7:09 AM–8:03 AM5:59 PM–6:53 PM6:36 PM6:53 PM–7:04 PM11h 10m17%11:52 AM
Thu 157:27 AM7:10 AM–8:05 AM5:57 PM–6:52 PM6:35 PM6:52 PM–7:03 PM11h 08m24%12:48 PM
Fri 167:28 AM7:11 AM–8:06 AM5:55 PM–6:50 PM6:33 PM6:50 PM–7:01 PM11h 05m33%1:38 PM
Sat 177:29 AM7:12 AM–8:07 AM5:54 PM–6:49 PM6:32 PM6:49 PM–7:00 PM11h 02m42%2:19 PM
Sun 187:30 AM7:13 AM–8:08 AM5:52 PM–6:47 PM6:30 PM6:47 PM–6:58 PM11h 00m51%2:53 PM
Mon 197:32 AM7:14 AM–8:10 AM5:51 PM–6:46 PM6:29 PM6:46 PM–6:57 PM10h 57m61%3:22 PM
Tue 207:33 AM7:15 AM–8:11 AM5:49 PM–6:44 PM6:27 PM6:44 PM–6:55 PM10h 54m70%3:47 PM
Wed 217:34 AM7:17 AM–8:12 AM5:47 PM–6:43 PM6:26 PM6:43 PM–6:54 PM10h 52m79%4:08 PM
Thu 227:35 AM7:18 AM–8:13 AM5:46 PM–6:41 PM6:24 PM6:41 PM–6:52 PM10h 49m86%4:30 PM
Fri 237:36 AM7:19 AM–8:15 AM5:44 PM–6:40 PM6:23 PM6:40 PM–6:51 PM10h 46m93%4:51 PM
Sat 247:37 AM7:20 AM–8:16 AM5:43 PM–6:39 PM6:21 PM6:39 PM–6:50 PM10h 44m97%5:13 PM
Sun 257:39 AM7:21 AM–8:17 AM5:41 PM–6:37 PM6:20 PM6:37 PM–6:48 PM10h 41m100%5:40 PM
Mon 267:40 AM7:22 AM–8:18 AM5:40 PM–6:36 PM6:18 PM6:36 PM–6:47 PM10h 39m99%6:10 PM
Tue 277:41 AM7:23 AM–8:20 AM5:38 PM–6:35 PM6:17 PM6:35 PM–6:46 PM10h 36m97%6:48 PM
Wed 287:42 AM7:25 AM–8:21 AM5:37 PM–6:33 PM6:16 PM6:33 PM–6:44 PM10h 34m92%7:37 PM
Thu 297:43 AM7:26 AM–8:22 AM5:35 PM–6:32 PM6:14 PM6:32 PM–6:43 PM10h 31m84%8:38 PM
Fri 307:45 AM7:27 AM–8:24 AM5:34 PM–6:31 PM6:13 PM6:31 PM–6:42 PM10h 29m75%9:49 PM
Sat 317:46 AM7:28 AM–8:25 AM5:32 PM–6:29 PM6:12 PM6:29 PM–6:41 PM10h 26m64%11:06 PM

Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Chicago) and computed for Des Moines city center.

Photo planning tips for October

  • Peak fall color moves south through most states.
  • The Milky Way core sets early in the evening — shoot it right after dark.
  • The Orionid meteor shower peaks around October 21.

Other months

JanuaryDes MoinesFebruaryDes MoinesMarchDes MoinesAprilDes MoinesMayDes MoinesJuneDes MoinesJulyDes MoinesAugustDes MoinesSeptemberDes MoinesOctoberDes MoinesNovemberDes MoinesDecemberDes Moines

FAQ

What time is sunset in Des Moines in October?
Between 6:58 PM (on October 1) and 6:12 PM (on October 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Des Moines in October?
On October 15 the evening golden hour is 5:57 PM–6:52 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:10 AM–8:05 AM.
When is the full moon in October 2026?
The moon is fullest on October 25; it rises around 5:40 PM in Des Moines. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.