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44.7894° N93.6022° W223 mBortle 7Chicago

Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour in Chaska, MN

Carver County, Minnesota · pop. 25,199

  • Sunrise 7:37 AM
  • Sunset 6:23 PM
  • Bortle 7

Chaska is a city of about 25,199 people in Carver County, Minnesota, at 223 m (732 ft). Today the sun rises at 7:37 AM and sets at 6:23 PM; the evening golden hour runs 5:42 PM – 6:41 PM. Below are monthly times, sun directions, the best photo locations within 80 km and the nearest dark skies.

Light at Chaska

Live
Sunrise
7:37 AM
Sunset
6:23 PM
Golden hour AM
7:19 AM – 8:17 AM
Golden hour PM
5:42 PM – 6:41 PM
Blue hour AM
7:07 AM – 7:19 AM
Blue hour PM
6:41 PM – 6:53 PM
Full darkness
8:00 PM – 6:01 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:52 PM / 1:20 AM
Day length
10h 46m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour by month

Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:49 AM8:35 AM4:13 PM5:00 PM5:32 PM9h 11m
February7:16 AM7:57 AM5:02 PM5:43 PM6:13 PM10h 27m
March7:28 AM8:07 AM6:42 PM7:21 PM7:50 PM11h 53m
April6:31 AM7:10 AM7:20 PM7:59 PM8:30 PM13h 29m
May5:47 AM6:29 AM7:54 PM8:36 PM9:10 PM14h 49m
June5:29 AM6:14 AM8:18 PM9:03 PM9:40 PM15h 34m
July5:43 AM6:27 AM8:15 PM8:59 PM9:34 PM15h 15m
August6:17 AM6:58 AM7:42 PM8:22 PM8:54 PM14h 05m
September6:54 AM7:33 AM6:49 PM7:27 PM7:57 PM12h 33m
October7:30 AM8:10 AM5:51 PM6:31 PM7:01 PM11h 01m
November7:12 AM7:57 AM4:03 PM4:48 PM5:19 PM9h 35m
December7:46 AM8:34 AM3:47 PM4:35 PM5:09 PM8h 49m

Local time in America/Chicago, daylight saving time included.

Where the sun rises and sets in Chaska

At Chaska the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice

Best photo spots near Chaska

51 photo locations lie within 80 km of Chaska. Each links to a full planning page with sunrise and sunset directions.

Scenic Viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point19 km away · Hennepin County · 288 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Lake Park21 km away · Hennepin County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Pigeon Lake Overlook65 km away · Meeker County · 321 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point71 km away · Washington County · 204 m

Waterfalls

Saint Anthony FallsWaterfall
Saint Anthony Falls34 km away · Hennepin County · 241 m
Minnehaha FallsWaterfall
Minnehaha Falls34 km away · Hennepin County · 247 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls35 km away · Hennepin County
Waterfall
Shadow Falls36 km away · Ramsey County · 255 m
Waterfall
Minnewankon Falls78 km away · Nicollet County · 258 m
Waterfall
Minnemishinona Falls79 km away · Nicollet County · 251 m

State Parks

Minnesota Valley State Recreation AreaState Park
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area16 km away · Scott County
Fort Snelling State ParkState Park
Fort Snelling State Park35 km away · Dakota County
Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkState Park
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park63 km away · Rice County
Sakatah Lake State ParkState Park
Sakatah Lake State Park63 km away · Le Sueur County
Afton State ParkState Park
Afton State Park65 km away · Washington County
Lake Maria State ParkState Park
Lake Maria State Park65 km away · Wright County

Lakes

Christmas LakeLake
Christmas Lake13 km away · Hennepin County · 285 m
Lake MinnetonkaLake
Lake Minnetonka16 km away · Hennepin County
Lake WaconiaLake
Lake Waconia17 km away · Carver County · 294 m
Bush LakeLake
Bush Lake18 km away · Hennepin County · 255 m
Lake HarrietLake
Lake Harriet28 km away · Hennepin County · 259 m
Black Dog LakeLake
Black Dog Lake27 km away · Dakota County · 212 m

Beaches

Beach
Cedar Lake East Beach29 km away · Hennepin County

Botanical Gardens

University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum8.1 km away · Carver County
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)Botanical Garden
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)40 km away · Ramsey County
Como Park Zoo and ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory41 km away · Ramsey County
Linnaeus ArboretumBotanical Garden
Linnaeus Arboretum60 km away · Nicollet County

Night sky, Milky Way & aurora

The sky over central Chaska is estimated at Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition). The nearest truly dark location in our database is Monson Lake State Park, about 144 km (89 mi) away (Bortle 2). The Milky Way core is up during darkness from April to September, best in June. Northern lights need roughly Kp 4.5+ to appear low on the northern horizon here.

Darkest skies within 200 km

LocationTypeDistanceEst. Bortle
Monson Lake State ParkState Park144 km (89 mi)2
Upper Sioux Agency State ParkState Park147 km (91 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park149 km (93 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio Observation TowerFire Lookout150 km (93 mi)2
Father Hennepin State ParkState Park151 km (94 mi)2
Mille Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge153 km (95 mi)2
St. Croix State ParkState Park154 km (96 mi)2
Mille Lacs LakeLake161 km (100 mi)2
MonthMilky Way core window (15th)HoursMax altitude
March5:18 AM – 5:38 AM0.312°
April3:16 AM – 4:36 AM1.316°
May1:13 AM – 3:33 AM2.316°
June11:32 PM – 2:52 AM3.316°
July11:17 PM – 1:37 AM2.316°
August10:16 PM – 11:36 PM1.315°
September9:07 PM – 9:37 PM0.512°

Cloud cover by month

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (69%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

FAQ

What time is golden hour in Chaska today?
Today the morning golden hour is 7:19 AM – 8:17 AM and the evening golden hour is 5:42 PM – 6:41 PM (local time). The live widget at the top updates automatically and lets you pick any date.
What time is sunset in Chaska in October?
Around the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:31 PM and blue hour ends around 7:01 PM.
When is the latest sunset in Chaska?
Sunset is latest in late June — about 9:05 PM — and earliest in December, around 4:37 PM.
Where can I watch the sunset near Chaska?
Good options nearby include Christmas Lake, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Waconia. Check each page's sunset azimuth to see whether the sun sets in view.
Can you see the Milky Way from Chaska?
Not well from the city center (estimated Bortle 7). Drive to Monson Lake State Park (144 km (89 mi)) for dark skies.
Can you see the northern lights in Chaska?
Occasionally. Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5 or higher to show on the northern horizon at this geomagnetic latitude (53°). Cameras pick it up before your eyes do.