In December 2026, sunrise in Rochester moves from 7:23 AM on December 1 to 7:43 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:38 PM to 4:45 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 14m to 9h 02m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:23 AM → 7:43 AM
Sunset range
4:38 PM → 4:45 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 3:59 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–8:08 AM | 3:53 PM–4:57 PM | 4:38 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 14m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:24 AM | 7:05 AM–8:10 AM | 3:52 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 13m | 35% | 12:44 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:25 AM | 7:06 AM–8:11 AM | 3:52 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 12m | 25% | 1:55 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:27 AM | 7:07 AM–8:12 AM | 3:51 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 10m | 17% | 3:04 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:28 AM | 7:08 AM–8:13 AM | 3:51 PM–4:56 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:56 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 09m | 10% | 4:14 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:29 AM | 7:09 AM–8:14 AM | 3:51 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 08m | 5% | 5:23 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:29 AM | 7:10 AM–8:15 AM | 3:51 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:08 PM | 9h 07m | 2% | 6:30 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:30 AM | 7:10 AM–8:16 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:08 PM | 9h 06m | 0% | 7:32 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:31 AM | 7:11 AM–8:17 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:08 PM | 9h 05m | 1% | 8:27 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:32 AM | 7:12 AM–8:18 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:08 PM | 9h 04m | 3% | 9:14 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:33 AM | 7:13 AM–8:19 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 03m | 7% | 9:53 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:34 AM | 7:14 AM–8:20 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 02m | 12% | 10:24 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:35 AM | 7:15 AM–8:21 AM | 3:50 PM–4:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 4:56 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 02m | 19% | 10:50 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:35 AM | 7:15 AM–8:22 AM | 3:50 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 01m | 27% | 11:13 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:36 AM | 7:16 AM–8:22 AM | 3:50 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 01m | 36% | 11:34 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:37 AM | 7:17 AM–8:23 AM | 3:51 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:09 PM | 9h 00m | 46% | 11:53 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:38 AM | 7:17 AM–8:24 AM | 3:51 PM–4:57 PM | 4:37 PM | 4:57 PM–5:10 PM | 9h 00m | 57% | 12:13 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:38 AM | 7:18 AM–8:25 AM | 3:51 PM–4:58 PM | 4:38 PM | 4:58 PM–5:10 PM | 8h 59m | 67% | 12:35 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:39 AM | 7:19 AM–8:25 AM | 3:52 PM–4:58 PM | 4:38 PM | 4:58 PM–5:10 PM | 8h 59m | 77% | 12:59 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:39 AM | 7:19 AM–8:26 AM | 3:52 PM–4:59 PM | 4:38 PM | 4:59 PM–5:11 PM | 8h 59m | 85% | 1:30 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:40 AM | 7:20 AM–8:26 AM | 3:52 PM–4:59 PM | 4:39 PM | 4:59 PM–5:11 PM | 8h 59m | 92% | 2:08 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:40 AM | 7:20 AM–8:27 AM | 3:53 PM–4:59 PM | 4:39 PM | 4:59 PM–5:12 PM | 8h 59m | 97% | 2:57 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:41 AM | 7:21 AM–8:27 AM | 3:53 PM–5:00 PM | 4:40 PM | 5:00 PM–5:12 PM | 8h 59m | 100% | 3:59 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:41 AM | 7:21 AM–8:28 AM | 3:54 PM–5:00 PM | 4:40 PM | 5:00 PM–5:13 PM | 8h 59m | 99% | 5:12 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:42 AM | 7:21 AM–8:28 AM | 3:55 PM–5:01 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:01 PM–5:13 PM | 8h 59m | 96% | 6:33 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 AM–8:28 AM | 3:55 PM–5:02 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:02 PM–5:14 PM | 9h 00m | 90% | 7:52 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 AM–8:29 AM | 3:56 PM–5:02 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:02 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 00m | 83% | 9:10 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 AM–8:29 AM | 3:57 PM–5:03 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:03 PM–5:15 PM | 9h 00m | 73% | 10:26 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:43 AM | 7:23 AM–8:29 AM | 3:57 PM–5:04 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:04 PM–5:16 PM | 9h 01m | 63% | 11:39 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:43 AM | 7:23 AM–8:29 AM | 3:58 PM–5:04 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:04 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 02m | 52% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:43 AM | 7:23 AM–8:29 AM | 3:59 PM–5:05 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:05 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 02m | 41% | 12:50 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/New York) and computed for Rochester 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
JanuaryRochesterFebruaryRochesterMarchRochesterAprilRochesterMayRochesterJuneRochesterJulyRochesterAugustRochesterSeptemberRochesterOctoberRochesterNovemberRochesterDecemberRochester
FAQ
What time is sunset in Rochester in December?
Between 4:38 PM (on December 1) and 4:45 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Rochester in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 3:50 PM–4:57 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:16 AM–8:22 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 3:59 PM in Rochester. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.