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44.7433° N92.8524° W221 mBortle 6Chicago

Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour in Hastings, MN

Dakota County, Minnesota · pop. 22,554

  • Sunrise 7:34 AM
  • Sunset 6:20 PM
  • Bortle 6

Hastings is a city of about 22,554 people in Dakota County, Minnesota, at 221 m (725 ft). Today the sun rises at 7:34 AM and sets at 6:20 PM; the evening golden hour runs 5:40 PM – 6:38 PM. Below are monthly times, sun directions, the best photo locations within 80 km and the nearest dark skies.

Light at Hastings

Live
Sunrise
7:34 AM
Sunset
6:20 PM
Golden hour AM
7:16 AM – 8:14 AM
Golden hour PM
5:40 PM – 6:38 PM
Blue hour AM
7:04 AM – 7:16 AM
Blue hour PM
6:38 PM – 6:50 PM
Full darkness
7:57 PM – 5:58 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:49 PM / 1:17 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
January7:46 AM8:32 AM4:11 PM4:57 PM5:29 PM9h 11m
February7:13 AM7:54 AM4:59 PM5:40 PM6:10 PM10h 27m
March7:25 AM8:03 AM6:39 PM7:18 PM7:47 PM11h 53m
April6:28 AM7:07 AM7:17 PM7:56 PM8:27 PM13h 29m
May5:44 AM6:26 AM7:51 PM8:33 PM9:07 PM14h 49m
June5:26 AM6:11 AM8:15 PM9:00 PM9:37 PM15h 34m
July5:40 AM6:24 AM8:12 PM8:55 PM9:31 PM15h 15m
August6:15 AM6:55 AM7:39 PM8:19 PM8:51 PM14h 05m
September6:51 AM7:29 AM6:46 PM7:24 PM7:53 PM12h 33m
October7:27 AM8:07 AM5:49 PM6:28 PM6:58 PM11h 01m
November7:09 AM7:53 AM4:00 PM4:45 PM5:16 PM9h 35m
December7:43 AM8:31 AM3:44 PM4:32 PM5:06 PM8h 49m

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

Where the sun rises and sets in Hastings

At Hastings 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 Hastings

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

Scenic Viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point38 km away · Washington County · 204 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Lake Park39 km away · Hennepin County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point59 km away · Hennepin County · 288 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Reads Landing Overlook70 km away · Wabasha County · 240 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Taylor Falls Overlook - South75 km away · Chisago County · 232 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Wabasha Overlook78 km away · Wabasha County · 295 m

Waterfalls

Saint Anthony FallsWaterfall
Saint Anthony Falls42 km away · Hennepin County · 241 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls33 km away · Hennepin County
Minnehaha FallsWaterfall
Minnehaha Falls34 km away · Hennepin County · 247 m
Waterfall
Shadow Falls35 km away · Ramsey County · 255 m
Waterfall
Apple River Falls47 km away · Saint Croix County · 226 m
Waterfall
Cascade Falls (Osceola)61 km away · Saint Croix County

State Parks

Kinnickinnic State ParkState Park
Kinnickinnic State Park13 km away · Pierce County
Afton State ParkState Park
Afton State Park14 km away · Washington County
Fort Snelling State ParkState Park
Fort Snelling State Park30 km away · Dakota County
Willow River State ParkState Park
Willow River State Park33 km away · Saint Croix County
Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkState Park
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park49 km away · Rice County
Frontenac State ParkState Park
Frontenac State Park49 km away · Goodhue County

Lakes

Lake PhalenLake
Lake Phalen31 km away · Ramsey County · 262 m
Black Dog LakeLake
Black Dog Lake33 km away · Dakota County · 212 m
Como LakeLake
Como Lake35 km away · Ramsey County · 269 m
Lake NokomisLake
Lake Nokomis36 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
Lake HiawathaLake
Lake Hiawatha36 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
White Bear LakeLake
White Bear Lake38 km away · Washington County · 281 m

Beaches

Beach
Cedar Lake East Beach44 km away · Hennepin County

Botanical Gardens

Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)Botanical Garden
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)34 km away · Ramsey County
Como Park Zoo and ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory35 km away · Ramsey County
University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum62 km away · Carver County

Night sky, Milky Way & aurora

The sky over central Hastings is estimated at Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky). The nearest truly dark location in our database is Dorothy Lake State Natural Area, about 133 km (83 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
Dorothy Lake State Natural AreaLake133 km (83 mi)2
Red Cedar LakeLake138 km (86 mi)2
St. Croix State ParkState Park138 km (86 mi)2
Brunet Island State ParkState Park141 km (88 mi)2
Hamilton FallsWaterfall149 km (93 mi)2
Father Hennepin State ParkState Park164 km (102 mi)2
Mille Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge168 km (104 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park169 km (105 mi)2
MonthMilky Way core window (15th)HoursMax altitude
March5:15 AM – 5:35 AM0.312°
April3:13 AM – 4:33 AM1.316°
May1:10 AM – 3:30 AM2.316°
June11:29 PM – 2:49 AM3.316°
July11:14 PM – 1:34 AM2.316°
August10:13 PM – 11:33 PM1.315°
September9:04 PM – 9:34 PM0.512°

Cloud cover by month

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). 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 Hastings today?
Today the morning golden hour is 7:16 AM – 8:14 AM and the evening golden hour is 5:40 PM – 6:38 PM (local time). The live widget at the top updates automatically and lets you pick any date.
What time is sunset in Hastings in October?
Around the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:28 PM and blue hour ends around 6:58 PM.
When is the latest sunset in Hastings?
Sunset is latest in late June — about 9:01 PM — and earliest in December, around 4:34 PM.
Where can I watch the sunset near Hastings?
Good options nearby include Lake Phalen, Black Dog Lake, Como Lake. Check each page's sunset azimuth to see whether the sun sets in view.
Can you see the Milky Way from Hastings?
Not well from the city center (estimated Bortle 6). Drive to Dorothy Lake State Natural Area (133 km (83 mi)) for dark skies.
Can you see the northern lights in Hastings?
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.